Government relaxes norms for licences for e-rickshaw drivers

The government has approved relaxation in norms for driving licences of e-rickshaw drivers. This decision was taken by the Cabinet meeting held at New Delhi.
Decision taken

• The provision that no person shall be granted a learner’s licence to drive a commercial vehicle unless he or she has held a driving licence for light motor vehicle for at least one year has been waived.
• e-rickshaw was made legal entity and any driver passing the driving test will now be granted a licence.

Background
Earlier in July 2014, Delhi High Court had banned e-rickshaws on the roads of the national capital saying that they are a hazard to other traffic as well as citizens.
In October, government had notified the Central Motor Vehicles (Sixteenth Amendment) Rules, 2014, which paved the way for e-rickshaw. This rule also made mandatory for e-rickshaws driver’s to have licence for operating them and limiting the maximum speed to 25 km/ hr. The new rules also provide that e-rickshaw will be allowed to carry four passengers and 40 kg luggage while e-carts would transport goods up to 310 kg.
Thus, the government’s recent decision to relax the norms for e-rickshaw drivers, will pave the way for the battery-operated vehicles to ply on national capital roads, which were banned by the Delhi High Court on safety concerns.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2014