The Delhi BJP will soon approach Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to lift the ban on e-rickshaws, fearing that the lieutenant-Governor’s decision may prompt lakhs of e-rickshaw drivers to vote against the party in the upcoming Delhi election.
The party has also urged Najeeb Jung and Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi to provide relief to the battery-operated drivers and owners. The Delhi Government on Thursday banned the plying and parking of e-rickshaws on 236 thoroughfares, including 77 roads in New Delhi alone like Barakhamba Road, Tilak Marg, Rajpath, Ashoka Road, Tughlak Road, Shahjahan Road, Rafi Marg, Feroz Shah Road and others.
“Party is very serious over the issue and has decided to approach Union Transport Minister Gadkari in the next two or three days to remove this ban,” said a senior party leader. According to the party leaders, BJP had made a lot of efforts to regularise e-rickshaws ahead of Delhi Assembly elections, but lG’s move may spoil the party’s strategy.
The Centre had given respite to e-rickshaws drivers by notifying Central Motor Vehicles (Sixteenth Amendment) Rules, 2014, which paves way for plying of “special purpose battery operated vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Delhi BJP has urged Union Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu to give relaxation to three lakh properties in slums and unauthorised colonies, which came into being after February, 2007.