E-rickshaws to run on 'own-and-operate' model

In order to bring in 'own-and- operate' system for e-rickshaws, the transport department has directed dealers to sell the vehicles to only those buyers, who have licenses to drive them in the national capital.
According to the department, as per the new rule, buyers at the time of purchase will also have to submit an affidavit stating that he doesn't have any permit based on which he runs other vehicles in the city.
With the own-and-operate system, the government wants to end the old hire-and-operate system, a senior government official said.
Under hire-and-operate system, the driver hires an e-rickshaw from its owner and then operates it.

"(Transport) Department has directed dealers of battery-operated vehicles to sell e-rickshaws to only those having a license to drive these vehicles," the senior government official said.
In December last year, the city government had notified the E-Rickshaw Sewa Scheme, paving the way for the return of the battery-operated vehicles to the national capital.

According to the transport department, e-rickshaws will now be registered as transport vehicles under registration series DL-1ER and granted contract carriage permits (without fare meter).
"We have also put a condition under which buyers will have to give an undertaking stating that he or she doesn't have any other permit to run bus, three-wheelers etc. If they give wrong information, they will be dealt with strictly," the official said.

Under the new scheme, e-rickshaws should have seating capacity of four persons, excluding the driver, with maximum luggage weight of 40 kg.
However, no fare structure was included in the new rules and every e-rickshaw should have a yellow colour reflective strip on its rear side.