The Delhi government has proposed capping the number of e-rickshaws operating in the Capital at 250,000, restricting individual ownership to five vehicles and requiring every vehicle to obtain a digital compliance certificate under a draft policy issued for public consultation on Sunday.
An e-rickshaw found operating without registration after the scheme’s notification would be immediately impounded and, according to the draft, would not be released. No fresh compliance certificates would be issued once the cap is reached, unless the government revises the limit. The policy seeks to bring both individual operators and larger fleet owners within a common regulatory framework. The proposed policy also lays down requirements for battery safety and disposal. E-rickshaws seeking registration and compliance certificates would have to use battery technology notified by the Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH). Used batteries would have to be disposed of exclusively through authorised recyclers. The draft provides for stringent action against violations, including impounding vehicles operating without the required registration or compliance certificate. It also proposes the crushing and auction of certain impounded vehicles under prescribed government guidelines. Such vehicles would be crushed and auctioned, while their batteries would also be retained for auction. The proposed measures are part of the government’s effort to bring e-rickshaw operations under a formal regulatory framework.
Fleet operators running 25 or more e-rickshaws would also need to obtain an aggregator licence. The transport department has invited public comments on the draft within 30 days of its publication, after which the government may consider feedback before finalising the scheme.
“Having regard to the serious concerns relating to traffic congestion, road safety hazards, air and noise pollution, and the excessive and unregulated proliferation of e-rickshaws,” the draft states, the government has fixed a fleet cap of 250,000 vehicles and compliance certificates.
