Battery-run rickshaws will be barred from national highways, expressways, elevated expressways and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) roads under new regulations issued by the government to regulate their movement and restore order on city streets.
The Local Government Division under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives issued the regulations through a notification on Thursday.
Titled City Corporation Areas Three-Wheeled Low-Speed Battery-Run Rickshaw Movement Regulations, 2026, the rules will apply to battery-run rickshaws operating in all city corporation areas across the country.
Under the regulations, the relevant authorities and traffic departments will jointly designate routes by zone. Rickshaws operating in one zone will not be allowed to enter another, and drivers must keep to the left lane.
The rules also prohibit horns exceeding 40 decibels. In areas near schools, hospitals, places of worship and other crowded locations, the maximum permitted speed will be 15km per hour.
Driving on footpaths, using mobile phones while driving, and unauthorised overtaking or lane changes will be prohibited.
Rickshaws will also be restricted in the number of passengers and the goods they can carry. They may carry either two or four passengers, in addition to the driver, while commercial goods other than passengers’ hand-carried belongings will not be allowed.
The regulations also set out requirements for battery charging and disposal. Batteries may only be charged at authorised charging points or garages. Authorities will gradually move to make net metering, solar panels and renewable energy mandatory at charging stations.
Discarded or non-functional batteries must not be dumped in open spaces, on the ground or in water bodies, or burned. Battery sellers will be required to take back an old battery whenever they sell a new one.
