A Delhi Government committee has recommended "complete replacement" of cycle rickshaws with two-seater e-rickshaws in the national Capital in order to improve last mile connectivity.
The committee, in its report, has also recommended capping the number of e-rickshaws and registration of the vehicle only after the owner gets a permanent driving licence.
Following a High Court order, the panel was formed in January this year for formulating a comprehensive policy regarding e-rickshaws.
“Cycle rickshaws should completely be replaced with smaller e-rickshaws and efforts should be made to make e-rickshaws more environment and people-friendly,” the committee's report stated.
The e-rickshaws approved by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, have maximum width of 1 metre and maximum length of 2.8 meters and are permitted to carry four passengers.
The panel has recommended designing smaller e-rickshaws with passenger capacity of two.
"This will make the e-rickshaws more people-friendly and would also help in providing last mile connectivity for those living in the far-flung areas where passenger density is low," the report stated.
It has also recommended doing away with the present system of e-rickshaw registration given on the basis of learning licence held by its owner.
"E-rickshaws should be registered only after the applicant obtains a permanent driving licence," the panel has recommended.
Noting the problems, like parking and traffic issues, caused due to over one lakh unregistered e-rickshaws, the committee has recommended limiting their numbers.
"At present there is no cap on the number of registered e-rickshaws in Delhi. The committee opines, considering the road space and availability of other modes of transport, the number of e-rickshaw should be limited as done in the case of auto-rickshaw," it said.
Recommending simplification of registration process for the existing e-rickshaws, the committee has sought a review of the Union Road Transport Ministry's ban on registration of e- rickshaws manufactured before October 8, 2010.