The government is preparing a comprehensive policy to regulate battery-powered three-wheeled e-rickshaws, including provisions for vehicle standards, safety, driver licences, registration and designated routes.
Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman disclosed the plan at the government’s weekly briefing on Tuesday.
He said a meeting was held on August 30 at the Local Government Department with stakeholders to discuss the operation and management of battery-powered three-wheelers across the country, including in city corporations and urban areas. State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam chaired the meeting.
The information adviser said a large number of battery-powered rickshaws are already operating across the country and the issue cannot be addressed by simply denying their existence.
“This is a reality. We need to bring this reality into a policy,” he said.
He said the policy would determine whether the technical specifications of vehicles currently in operation meet safety standards, which types of vehicles would be approved, how drivers would be licensed, how vehicles would be registered and which categories of roads they would be allowed to use.
“If an effective policy is introduced, the chaos and uncertainty surrounding battery-powered rickshaws on the roads will be greatly reduced,” Zahed Ur Rahman said.
