UT administration has planned to regulate e-rickshaws and e-carts in Chandigarh. With the aim encourage an eco-friendly mode of transport and reduce pollution in Chandigarh, the administration has framed a policy to come up with 1000 e-rickshaws on city roads. The e-rickshaws and e-carts are battery operated vehicle placed in three wheeler category to ply on roads.
At present, Chandigarh has around 300 e-rickshaws – battery operated vehicles running at Punjab University, Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake. State transport authority has planned to issue 1000 licenses for e-rikshaw in the city beautiful- Chandigarh, with aim of encouraging an eco-friendly mode of transport.
1000 more e-rickshaws in Chandigarh
Chandigarh road witnesses huge traffic jams during peak hours of the day. The number of vehicles is increasing day by day leading to hike in pollution level in the city. In order to promote battery operated vehicles in the city, the UT administration has planned to promote e-rickshaws. this strategy will help to reduce consumption of petrol and diesel. UT administration has exempted these battery operated vehicles from value added tax (VAT) and road tax for registration.
According to the UT administration, e-rickshaws to be registered should have type approval certificate from the designated testing agencies.State testing authority will regulate the number of vehicles being registered so that availability is not more than the actual demand. E-rickshaws will have penalty clauses for traffic offenses as provided for transport vehicles in the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, and Chandigarh Motor Vehicle Rules, 1990. State Transport Authority will assign a separate registration series – CH01TE to e-rickshaws.
E-rickshaw not to ply on V-1, V-2, V-7 roads in Chandigarh
E-rikshaws are currently plying only at Punjab University, Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake road, Chandigarh. But now e-rickshaws will be allowed to operate throughout the city with restrictions on v-1, v-7, v-2 roads. However, e-rikshaws will be allowed to access and use crossing junctions/roundabouts on all roads. V-1 roads are the stretched from Zirakpur to Tribune Chowk, Transport Chowk in Sector 26 to Sector 47 and transport Chowk to Manimajra. V2 roads are the national highways- Dakshin Marg and Madhya Marg (Chandigarh). V-7 is comprised of pedestrian paths and cycle tracks.
The battery operated vehicle must be equipped with first aid box and fire extinguisher. The owner of the vehicle will be required to wear a grey uniform. He would be responsible to dispose of used batteries only through an authorized e-waste disposal agency. Moreover, the vehicle must have the name, address and telephone number of the permit holder to be painted on the left side of the vehicle. The helpline number 1073 of Chandigarh traffic police should also be displayed on the vehicle. The fare is not yet disclosed but would be less than that being charged by auto rickshaws.
Source: Hindustan Times
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