Solar Charging Made Mandatory for Autorickshaw Registration

Bangla Press Desk:  The government is set to make it mandatory for battery-powered e-rickshaws and auto-rickshaws to be charged using solar power for getting registration, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam said Monday.Business news publication

Besides, a move is underway to bring battery-run electric rickshaws under a licensing and registration system, he said.

"Battery-powered e-rickshaws and auto-rickshaws will have to be charged using solar power to qualify for registration," the state minister told newsmen after a review meeting of departments and agencies at Bangladesh Secretariat.

"If they recharge with electricity other than solar power, they will face fines under the new rules," he continued.

He further said the government is bringing battery-powered e-rickshaws under a new registration system through city corporations and municipalities.

"From now on, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) will not register the e-rickshaws. City corporations and municipalities will do so," he maintained.

He said registration would be subject to several conditions including mandatory solar-powered charging.

"Vehicles charged from non-solar sources would neither be registered nor renewed," he vowed.

Mr Shahe Alam said a law has already been passed in Parliament and the relevant rules are now being prepared accordingly.

The state minister said the rules will set registration and renewal fees and other requirements.

To obtain registration, an e-rickshaw will also need a fitness certificate from the automobile branch of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology BUET or a government polytechnic institute at district level, he added.

"The fitness certificate will have to be submitted to the concerned city corporation or municipality with a countersignature from the traffic police," he added.