New Delhi, Oct. 18 -- The Delhi government has proposed limiting the number of e-rickshaws operating in the national capital to 2.5 lakh, citing traffic congestion, road safety risks and pollution, under a draft regulatory scheme released on Sunday.
The proposed Delhi E-Rickshaw (Registration and Operation) Scheme, 2026, has been opened for public feedback and suggestions for 30 days before it is finalised.
"Having regard to the serious concerns relating to traffic congestion, road safety hazards, air and noise pollution, and the excessive and unregulated proliferation of e-rickshaws, the Government of NCT of Delhi hereby fixes a city-wide fleet cap of 250,000 e-rickshaws," the draft states.
It further specifies that "no registration shall be issued beyond this limit, except where the cap is revised."
Under the proposed rules, an e-rickshaw will be defined as a battery-operated three-wheeler carrying up to four passengers, excluding the driver, with a luggage capacity of 40 kg. Its net power output must not exceed 2,000 watts, while its maximum speed will be restricted to 25 kmph.
The scheme also makes registration as a transport vehicle and possession of a valid E-Rickshaw Compliance Certificate (ECC) mandatory for operations.
The ECC will be issued digitally and remain valid for two years. It will record vehicle registration, owner and driver details, driving licence and public service vehicle (PSV) badge information, battery compliance status, and the validity of fitness and insurance documents. Each certificate will be linked to a single e-rickshaw and one driver.
The draft proposes that individual owners who are Delhi residents can own a maximum of five e-rickshaws. Companies, firms, non-governmental organisations, cooperative societies and driving schools will be permitted to own up to 100 vehicles.
Entities operating fleets of 25 or more e-rickshaws will have to obtain an aggregator licence and ensure adequate charging or battery-swapping facilities. All drivers must possess a valid e-rickshaw driving licence and PSV badge. A driver cannot be linked to more than one ECC, the draft states.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.