‘Oil e-rickshaw wheels in motion’
Delhi BJP places demand at a meeting with Gadkari
The Delhi BJP on Tuesday requested the Union Government to relax rules in a bid to remove the hurdles for the return of e-rickshaws on the streets of the national Capital. A delegation of Delhi BJP leaders, led by their chief Satish Upadhyay, made the demand during a meeting with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Upadhyay said despite the Centre’s best efforts to bring e-rickshaw back on roads, the proposal is marred by several technical aspects. “Central Government has been making best efforts to bring e-rickshaws back on road. Transport Ministry has issued a notification which has sought suggestions of general public within 10 days. A final notification on the matter will be issued after 10 days,” Gadkari said in the meeting.
“Gadkari also informed us that the Union Transport Ministry has advised the lG to ensure that the concerned departments in Delhi organise safety training and counselling sessions for e-rickshaw drivers in the city as the matter of callous driving too is the part of ongoing court matter. The training sessions would also help satisfy the High Court,” said Upadhyay.
Upadhyay added, “We are pained that thousands of e-rickshaw drivers are deprived of their livelihood due to ban on e-rickshaws. Government will also introduce new rules so that they can legally be regularised.” Upadhyay said that Transport Ministry has advised the lieutenant Governor to ensure that the departments concerned in Delhi organise safety training and counselling sessions for e-rickshaw drivers in the city.
The Delhi High Court on September 9 had said that ban on e-rickshaws in the Capital will continue as they are illegal as per existing laws and had rejected Centre’s plea to allow them to ply till rules are framed to regulate them. The delegation also raised the issue of deteriorating condition of roads under PWD maintenance specially of national highways before Gadkari, who said that the Centre is working on this and soon we will find not only better existing roads but new expanded highway network around Delhi.