India, March 14 -- Days after temporarily suspending the issuance of new auto-rickshaw permits and revoking provisional bike taxi licences across the state, the Maharashtra government on Friday made permits mandatory for electric auto rickshaws and e-bikes used in passenger transport. Such vehicles will now also have to be registered with regional transport offices (RTOs), state transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said.

"Until now, electric rickshaws were not required to obtain a separate permit for passenger transport. However, considering the rapid increase in electric vehicles, the government has decided to make the permit process mandatory for e-rickshaws and e-bikes as well. This is to ensure uniform rules for passenger transport," sa...