All efforts of the Regional Transport Office to curb violations by public transport vehicles seem to be in vain as the operation of unregistered vehicles like the battery operated auto rickshaw on the roads of the State capital is increasing and the officials have not addressed this issue.
As per the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, a battery operated vehicle means a vehicle adapted for use upon roads and powered exclusively by an electric motor whose traction energy is supplied exclusively by traction battery installed in the vehicle provided that if the stipulated conditions are verified and authorised by any testing agency specified in rule 126, the battery operated vehicle shall not be deemed to be a motor vehicle.
If the 30 minutes power of the motor is less than 0.25 kW, the maximum speed of the vehicle is less than 25 km/h, bi-cycles with pedal assistance which are equipped with an auxiliary electric motor having a thirty minute power less than 0.25 kW whose output is progressively reduced and finally cut off as the vehicle reaches a speed of 25 km/h, or sooner, if the cyclist stops pedaling and fitted with suitable brakes and retro-reflective devices, ie, one white reflector in the front and one red reflector at the rear.
RTO officials revealed that none of the battery operated auto-rickshaws functional in the town are holding any permit and are also unregistered. They can’t be registered as none of these vehicles are designed following the above mentioned norms of the Motor Vehicle Act. Regarding why the RTO is acting lenient towards such unregistered vehicle operators and not penalising any of them, an official informed that it is basically the responsibility of the department’s enforcement officers to tackle this violation.
Despite the recent instruction issued by the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Dinesh Chandra Pathoi to take strict action against the illegal practice of these battery operated auto rickshaws nothing has been done by the enforcement officers. He said that none of these auto rickshaws are issued driving permit from the RTO and are functioning illegally.
Notably, the battery operated auto-rickshaws are very openly being operated in the town on several routes without the registration.