E-rickshaws have been freed from permit requirements, and hence can’t ban their operation across Dakshina Kannada, says Deputy Commissioner

Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner M. P. Mullai Muhilan said on Thursday that the Union government has freed e-rickshaws from permit requirements across the country.

Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner M. P. Mullai Muhilan said on Thursday that the Union government has freed e-rickshaws from permit requirements across the country.

Addressing presspersons, the Deputy Commissioner said that the provisions of sub-section (1) of Section 66 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, will not apply to e-rickshaws which are exempt from having permits.

The Deputy Commissioner, who is also the chairman of the Regional Transport Authority and the District Magistrate, said that he cannot prevent the plying of e-rickshaws across the district.

Meanwhile, as per the gazette notification issued by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on August 31, 2016, e-rickshaws and e-carts have been freed from permit requirements. According to the notification, the provisions of sub-section (1) of Section 66 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, will not apply to e-carts and e-rickshaws (as defined in section 2A of the said Act) that are used for carrying goods or passengers with personal luggage. This means that vehicles that are registered as e carts or e-rickshaws will not require any permits.

The Deputy Commissioner said that he will call a meeting of all autorickshaw unions on September 5 to sort out issues relating to e-rickshaws.

Earlier, autorickshaw drivers in Mangaluru staged a protest against allowing e-rickshaws to operate across the district. They demanded restriction on their movements.

The drivers under the aegis of Dakshina Kannada District Autorickshaw Drivers’ and Owners’ Federation and Like-Minded Autorickshaw Drivers’ and Owners’ Association marched from B.R. Ambedkar Circle to Clock Tower Circle.