India, July 6 -- As India's cities grow more digital and delivery-driven, the pressure on urban logistics is steadily rising. Yet navigating India's dense, informal, and congested urban fabric requires a kind of fleet that is both agile and affordable. Passenger autorickshaws may be considered here. Many autos are underutilised for much of the day, operating mainly during peak hours. Drivers, often earning inconsistent incomes, use off-peak hours to carry small parcels in informal arrangements. The vehicle is there. The demand is there. What is missing is the regulation of the service through a transparent policy guideline.

Currently, most passenger autos operate under contract carriage permits that prohibit the transportation of goods. ...