Maximum speed of e-rickshaws to be 25 kmph, licence must

E-rickshaws will have top speed of 25 km an hour and carry a maximum of four passengers, a draft notification said today so as to provide legal status to these vehicles which were banned by the Delhi High Court on safety concerns.
It has also proposed to make driving licence and periodic fitness certificates mandatory for e-rickshaws.
The Road Transport and Highways Ministry, which came out with the notification, specifies safety standards for e-rickshaws. It has sought comments from stakeholders within 10 days to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
"Objections or suggestions, if any, to these draft rules may be sent to the Joint Secretary, Transport", within 10 days, the notification said, adding that the Centre has powers to amend rules under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

"Maximum speed for e-rickshaws not more than 25 km per hour", power of its motor "not more than 2000W" and it will "carry not more than four passengers, excluding the driver, and not more than 40 kgs of luggage in total", said the notification.
It added: "Every driving license issued or renewed by a licensing authority to drive an E-rickshaw shall be valid for a period of not more than three years from the date of issue, as the case may be, or till the validity of the driving license, whichever is earlier."

The fitness certificate will be made only after carrying out tests and it will ply on specified areas or routes.

The notification defines e-rickshaws as "a special purpose battery operated vehicle having three wheels and intended to provide last mile connectivity for transport of passengers for hire or reward".
Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari had said yesterday that a final notification enabling plying of e-rickshaws would be issued after 10 days.
The Delhi High Court had on July 31 banned plying of e-rickshaws on the roads of the national capital saying "prima facie they are a hazard to other traffic as well as citizens".
The notification also specifies safety standards for e-rickshaws including lights, wheel rims and the battery.

The government has also sought sample vehicles from e-rickshaw associations by November 30 for verification by a test agency as specified by the Central government under rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989.