Bhopal: As per the Madhya Pradesh electric vehicle policy 2019, electric autos and e-rickshaws are allowed only in certain areas or outside major cities to avoid congestion. However, the rule seems to have gone for a toss on Bhopal as the battery operated 3-wheelers are free to run on any road across the city. This has added to the chaos on the roads especially during peak hours.
When contacted, TI (traffic) Vishal Malviya said, “As permit is not decided for them, they are running everywhere in the state capital. Anyone who has four-wheeler license can drive these vehicles. We take actions only when they do not have four-wheeler license or running without registration number. Beyond it no action is possible against them.”
The primary objective of the MPEV policy 2019 is to promote sustainable electric mobility and bring about a material improvement in Madhya Pradesh air quality by bringing down emissions from the transport sector.
To do so, this policy sought to drive rapid adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in a manner where they contribute to 25% of all new public transport vehicle registrations by 2026. However, the exemption given to such vehicles has become a weapon in the hands of the drivers as they run free-wheel.
Regular commuters of other vehicles said that it is good that the MP government has taken proactive action in making the policy but a lot of exemptions have become a problem than the facility. “Police should be given proper authority to deal with such e-rickshaws that do not follow the rules and regulations. Else, this e-rickshaw will be a big problem for everyone on the road,” said Anurag Prasad, a resident of New Market.
As per the policy, the driver only needs a driving license. “Policy should have defined what type of license is there for the drivers as they are running a commercial vehicle. By not defining the type of license, even people with private licenses are driving such vehicles and whenever they are caught, they show the MPEV Policy 2019,” said a traffic police official without quoting his name.
As per the policy, the shared e-rickshaws will be given express route permissions on first come, first serve basis. These permissions will be provided exclusively by the respective authority and any e-rickshaw must be operated after taking these permissions whether the vehicle has been purchased availing the incentives outlined in this policy.
