The Maharashtra government on Friday decided to make permits (licenses) mandatory for e-rickshaws and e-bikes, reported NDTV. Minister of Transport of Maharashtra Pratap Sarnaik said that all such vehicles will now be required to register with the Motor Vehicle Department and secure an official permit before operating.
According to the government, the decision is to bring uniform rules to auto-rickshaws, taxis and electric passenger vehicles, a step officials say will improve transparency and streamline discipline in the sector. To ease compliance, the Transport Department is also developing a 'One Window System' to simplify the permit-issuing process.
Earlier this week, the Maharashtra government had suspended the issuance of new autorickshaw permits in a bid to curb rising traffic congestion and urban pollution, state transport minister Sarnaik said. A release from his office said the suspension will remain in force until the state cabinet takes a decision on the criteria for granting new autorickshaw permits.
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The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) has advised the Maharashtra government to take a decision on autorickshaw permits based on local conditions in cities with a population of more than five lakh, Sarnaik said. "The government will soon consider policy decisions to provide better and more efficient transport facilities to citizens," he added.
In June 2017, the state government had lifted a 1997 freeze on issuing new auto rickshaw permits. Under Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, state governments have been given powers to regulate transport systems as per their requirements, Sarnaik said. Section 67(3) of Motor Vehicles Act 1988 empowers state governments to modify passenger and goods transport permits and implement schemes to improve last-mile connectivity and reduce traffic congestion, Sarnaik said in the release.
As per the economic survey for 2025-26, the state had 12.96 lakh auto rickshaw at the end of January 1 this year.
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