400 new e-rickshaw passenger permits to be issued in state

The government has authorised all Regional Transport Authorities (RTAs) to grant permits for 400 e-rickshaws in various subdivisions of the state.

A government spokesperson said here today that a fresh notification issued under Section 113 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, allowed the Regional Transport Authorities to grant e-rickshaw passenger permits in various subdivisions, including Palampur and Dharamsala in Kangra, Chamba (Sadar) and Bhattiyat, Kalpa (Rekong Peo) and Sangla in Kinnaur and Nahan and Rajgarh in Sirmaur district. Besides, carriage permits would also be issued in Jogindernagar, Padhar, Sarkaghat and Dharampur of Mandi district; Kullu, Bhuntar, Banjar, Manali, Patlikuhal and Naggar of Kullu district; Theog and Rohru in Shimla district; Kandaghat, Arki, Nalagarh and Baddi in Solan district and Haroli and Una and other areas in Una district.

The notification stated that only e-rickshaws would be permitted for new registrations in these areas. In the remaining subdivisions of the state, the operation of auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws would continue to remain restricted. However, this restriction would not apply to auto-rickshaws already operating under valid permits.

It had also been clarified in the notification that every registered and authorised e-rickshaw would be allowed to operate only within a 20-km radius in the subdivision headquarters. Once an e-rickshaw was registered or authorised in a particular subdivision, its operational headquarters would remain permanent and could not be changed or shifted under any circumstances.

Besides, the vehicle must strictly operate within the judicial limits of the allotted subdivision and any operation beyond the permitted area would be treated as a violation of the notification and the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.