The Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has threatened to launch an agitation in case the Union government fails to ensure the plying of e-rickshaws on city roads within 10-15 days.
Addressing a rally of e-rickshaw drivers at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday, Kejriwal said the recent notification by the Union Road Transport and Highway Ministry to regularise e-rickshaws is fraught with ‘shortcomings’.
He claimed that only a section of e-rickshaw drivers will benefit from the government’s recent move.
For e-rickshaws to get back on the roads, the ministry’s notification mandates fulfilment of four criteria – government approval for vehicle model, insurance, registration number and licence for the driver.
“If every individual will go for testing and approval of e-rickshaw, it will cost him Rs 5 lakh. How can someone, who has spent Rs 80,000 to one lakh to buy the vehicle, shell out Rs five lakh for its testing,” Kejriwal said, while informing e-rickshaw drivers about the shortcomings of the government’s notification.
He said the government should do away with education ceiling clause while doling out licence for e-rickshaw drivers. According to the new guidelines, only those with class 10 certificates are to given drivers’ licence.
The former chief minister asked the Union government to call a meeting of the e-rickshaw manufacturers within 48 hours, in order to fast track the process of clearance to e-rickshaw models.
“But there many e-rickshaws which were assembled or whose manufacturers are no longer in the market. The government should come up with a plan to regularise these vehicles as well,” he said.
The AAP has asked the government to organise large-scale camps for issuing licence and registration numbers to over 2 lakh e-rickshaw drivers. Kejriwal claimed that it will help cut through government red-tape and corruption.
“We are not forcing the government. It can come up with a solution in 10-15 days. Let the e-rickshaws ply on the roads. Ask the police not to stalk them. And if the government does not find a solution soon then we will struggle on the roads, we will launch a movement,” said Kejriwal.
During the rally, several e-rickshaw drivers shared how their livelihood has been impacted since the Delhi High Court ban on plying vehicles on Delhi roads over safety issues.
The 7-year-old Munni, daughter of an e-rickshaw driver, also shared her family’s hardship.
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