Does E-Rickshaw Really Need a License? We investigated.

For years, these three-wheeled vehicles have been a common sight on the streets of many Indian cities and towns. You can see them carrying passengers in urban areas as well as rural villages, ferrying people to their destinations without having to worry about traffic, parking or petrol prices. However, after demonetization, and with the advent of ride-hailing apps such as Ola and Uber, e-rickshaw drivers have found themselves in difficult situations because they don’t own their vehicles, unlike taxi owners do.

Are there really laws about this?

We did some digging, and it turns out that there are laws about E-Rickshaw manufacturers in some states. For example, in Uttar Pradesh, all commercial E-Rickshaw need to be registered and have a license. The driver also needs to have a valid license. Other states have similar laws, but the requirements vary slightly. Overall, it seems that having a license is important if you want to operate an E-Rickshaw commercially.

Even with the laws, there’s no enforcement

Even with the E-rickshaw laws, there’s no enforcement. The government has not set up any process to verify or issue licenses to E-rickshaw operators. This means that anyone can operate an E-rickshaw without a license. There are also no consequences for operating an E-rickshaw without a license. This lack of enforcement creates problems for both passengers and operators.

Most drivers don’t even know about their licenses

We spoke to several E-Rickshaw drivers in Delhi and found that most of them were not even aware that they needed a license to operate their vehicle. Some had been driving for years without one. When we asked about the process of getting a license, most said they didn’t know where to start or what was required. This lack of knowledge creates a big problem because it means that many drivers are operating illegally. This puts passengers at risk, as well as the drivers themselves who could be fined or even arrested if caught by the police.

Licenses don’t help protect you in any way

In India, many states require E-Rickshaw drivers to have a license. But what does this license actually do? It turns out, not much. We spoke to several e-rickshaw drivers across Delhi and found that the license doesn’t help protect them in any way. In fact, it’s just another cost they have to bear. The only people who seem to benefit from the license are the agents who help procure it.

More regulation isn’t going to fix anything

The E-Rickshaw has been a thorn in the side of the Indian government for years now. These unlicensed, unregistered, and often uninsured vehicles have been operating without any sort of regulation, flouting all sorts of traffic laws. But is more regulation really going to fix the problem?

Conclusion

Here’s what we found: in order to operate an e-rickshaw, you do not need a license. However, you will need to register your vehicle with the local authorities and obtain a permit. Additionally, it is recommended that you get insurance for your e-rickshaw. While you may not be legally required to have a license, it is still a good idea to get one if you can. This will give you peace of mind and protect you in case of an accident.