Ola Electric Tells Maharashtra It’s Applying For Trade Certificates Now

Ola Electric Mobility Ltd. has told the Maharashtra government that it’s now in the process of applying for trade certificates for all of its stores in the state.

“We have rapidly expanded our store network and while we streamline our operations, we are making sure that these stores have all the relevant licences and approvals to operate, including trade certificates from jurisdictional RTOs,” the Bengaluru-based EV maker told Maharashtra’s Joint Transport Commissioner Ravi Gaikwad in a letter dated April 5. 

“We’re committed to ensure that we are fully compliant with the law and have either already applied for or are in the process of applying for relevant licences and approvals, including trade certificates for our stores.”

NDTV Profit has seen a copy of Ola Electric’s letter. This was in response to the March 31 letter that Maharashtra’s transport department sent to the company.

During an exclusive chat with NDTV Profit on April 5, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik had said that RTO raids have found that 300-350 Ola Electric stores in the state are operating on a single trade certificate. He warned of penal action against the company if the situation demands so.

Ola Electric currently operates 488 sales-and-service centres in Maharashtra, according to its website. Of these, several were raided in the past month or so over lack of necessary paperwork.