Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the Central Government to formulate a national policy for regulating e-rickshaws and similar electric vehicles within 60 days. The court observed that the absence of proper regulations has led to congestion, traffic disorder, and safety concerns on roads.
Why Did The MP High Court Pass The Nationwide E-Rickshaw Policy Order
The matter came before the Madhya Pradesh High Court through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The petition raised concerns about the increasing number of e-rickshaws operating across cities and towns without a uniform regulatory framework.
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The court noted that e-rickshaws have become an important mode of public transport, but their rapid growth has also created challenges related to traffic management, licensing, safety standards, and road discipline.
What Did The Court Observe
The High Court observed that the absence of a comprehensive regulatory mechanism for e-rickshaws is causing serious traffic issues.
According to the court, unregulated operation of these vehicles contributes to road congestion and creates what it described as “anarchy on the roads.”
The bench emphasized that proper regulation is necessary to ensure public safety and smooth traffic movement.
Need For A Uniform National Framework
The court stated that different states follow different practices regarding e-rickshaws. A nationwide policy would help create uniform standards for registration, licensing, operation, safety requirements, and enforcement. The judges stressed that a consistent framework would benefit both passengers and operators.
Nationwide E-Rickshaw Policy: Court Directs Centre To Act Within 60 Days
The division bench directed the Central Government to prepare a nationwide policy regulating e-rickshaws and similar electric vehicles. The court granted a period of 60 days for the formulation of the policy.
The order seeks to address growing concerns regarding road safety, traffic management, and compliance with transport regulations.
Bench Hearing The Matter
The matter was heard by a division bench comprising Justice Vivek Agarwal and Justice Avanindra Kumar Singh. The judges highlighted the importance of balancing sustainable transport growth with public safety and effective regulation.
Why Nationwide E-Rickshaw Policy Is Important
E-rickshaws have become widely popular because they are affordable, environmentally friendly, and suitable for short-distance travel. They also provide employment opportunities to thousands of drivers across India. However, the rapid increase in their numbers has raised concerns regarding operational standards and traffic discipline.
Safety And Infrastructure Concerns
Experts have often pointed to issues such as overcrowding, improper parking, unlicensed operations, and lack of dedicated infrastructure. A national policy could help establish clear rules regarding vehicle fitness, driver eligibility, passenger safety, and route management.
Potential Impact Of The High Court Order
If implemented, the proposed national policy could bring significant changes to the e-rickshaw sector. It may lead to uniform regulations across states, better road safety standards, and improved traffic management.
The move could also support India’s broader goals of promoting clean and sustainable transportation while ensuring public safety.
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FAQs
The Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the Central Government to formulate the nationwide policy within 60 days.
The court found that the absence of proper regulation was causing traffic congestion, safety concerns, and disorder on roads, making a national framework necessary.
The policy is expected to address registration, licensing, safety standards, operational guidelines, traffic management, and enforcement mechanisms for e-rickshaws and similar electric vehicles.
