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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approved the much-awaited ‘Delhi Motor Vehicle Aggregator and Delivery Service Provider Scheme’, which legalises bike taxis and outlines comprehensive regulation and licensing of app-based aggregators and delivery service providers.
Bike taxis, however, have to be completely electric, with the policy curtailing the presence of petrol or diesel-fuelled bikes. Apart from this, the government has also set timelines for other modes of vehicles — both passenger service providers and delivery service providers — to convert to electric. The file now awaits the Lt-Governor’s approval, following which the policy will be notified.
Kejriwal, in a statement shared by the government, said the scheme “marks a significant milestone in Delhi’s fight against pollution”. He said Delhi has become the first state/UT in India, and among very few cities globally, “to mandate a time-bound transition of the commercial vehicle fleet of aggregators, delivery service providers and e-commerce entities to zero-emission electric vehicles”.
Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said it is the first time in the country “that any aggregator scheme has defined targets for them to convert their fleet into e-vehicles, promoting green and sustainable mobility in the city”.
“… this scheme is poised to usher in a new era of transportation services in Delhi,” he said, adding that the scheme “holds the potential to not only safeguard our environment but more significantly, enhance the well-being of citizens of Delhi”.
The government, through this policy, aims to convert fleets of all aggregators and delivery service providers to electric by 2030.
The policy, however, does not mention anything about surge pricing. Sources in the government said, “Aggregators will have to follow the price set by the government for taxis in Delhi.”
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The scheme also prevents operators /e-commerce entities running delivery and passenger services from getting licences to operate buses, limiting them to two-, three- and four-wheelers.
Once notified, the scheme mandates that all existing or new operators obtain a licence within 90 days of notification or before commencing operations. Licences will be valid for five years, with annual fees applicable, and zero fees in case of electric vehicles. A 50% rebate is also provided for vehicles that are less than two years old.
“The scheme is stringent in enforcing compliance, with violations attracting monetary penalties ranging from Rs 5,000 up to Rs 1,00,000 per instance,” said officials.
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