Delhi’s draft E-Rickshaw Policy 2026 is out. If your business touches e-rickshaws, you have about 30 days to respond.
On 18 October 2026, the Delhi Transport Department published the draft Delhi E-Rickshaw (Registration and Operation) Scheme, 2026 and invited public feedback for 30 days. If you own, finance, sell, insure, charge or service e-rickshaws in Delhi, this draft will reshape your business model. Here is a plain-language review of what it says, where the gaps are, and what to do before the feedback window closes.
Note: this is a draft. Provisions can change before the final Gazette notification, so verify everything against the final notified text.
Why the scheme exists
The draft's preamble acknowledges that e-rickshaws provide affordable last-mile connectivity and livelihoods, but points to unregulated growth, congestion, road safety risks, non-compliant batteries and weak enforcement. Its answer is a formal registration and compliance framework, issued under Section 67(3) of the Motor Vehicles Act, valid for an initial five years from notification.
The key provisions at a glance
Area | What the draft proposes |
E-Rickshaw Compliance Certificate (ECC) | Mandatory digital certificate to operate. Valid for 2 years. Linked to one vehicle and one driver. It is not a permit under Section 66. |
Who must comply | Category A: new registrations. Category B: existing, fully documented vehicles. Category C: existing vehicles missing fitness, insurance, or a licensed driver with PSV badge. |
Deadline for existing fleet | Categories B and C must obtain an ECC within 90 days of notification, unless extended. |
Fleet cap | City-wide cap of 2,50,000 e-rickshaws (ECCs), enforced after the 90-day window ends. |
Ownership limits | An individual (Delhi resident) can own up to 5. An entity can own up to 100, and must get an Aggregator licence at 25 vehicles. |
Drivers | Valid e-rickshaw licence and PSV badge. One driver per vehicle, and a driver cannot be linked to more than one ECC. |
Vehicle rules | Type-approved models only, DL-1ER series registration, HSRP, reflective strip, owner details painted on the vehicle, no bull bars. |
Batteries | Must meet MoRTH-notified technology. Used batteries go only to authorised recyclers. |
Enforcement | Unregistered vehicles are impounded and cannot be released; they are crushed or auctioned, and their batteries auctioned to recyclers. Non-compliant registered vehicles are impounded until the ECC and penalties are cleared, with disposal proceedings possible after 15 days. |
Appeals | Against ECC suspension or cancellation, within 30 days, to the Special Commissioner (Transport). |
Our review: what stands out
1. The fleet cap will create a rush, and the rules for it are unclear
The cap of 2,50,000 takes effect after the 90-day window. The draft does not explain what happens if applications exceed the cap, how new entrants (Category A) get an ECC once the cap is full, or whether the cap will be reviewed on a schedule (it only says "from time to time, if considered necessary"). For dealers and financiers, this makes demand forecasting difficult. For owners, it means the cost of missing the window could be permanent exclusion.
2. One driver per vehicle can hurt double-shift economics
Many owners run one vehicle with two drivers across shifts to improve utilisation. The draft ties each ECC to one named driver, and one driver to one ECC. Operators who depend on shift-sharing should model the impact and consider raising this in feedback.
3. Category C owners face the biggest cost and time pressure
Vehicles without valid fitness, insurance or a licensed driver with PSV badge must fix all of this within 90 days, and also pass a special inspection. Driver training now follows Rule 8A requirements, which may create a bottleneck for licensing and PSV badges.
4. Battery compliance is the biggest unknown
The inspection format records whether the battery is lead-acid or lithium-ion, and compliance depends on what MoRTH notifies. The draft does not say whether existing lead-acid vehicles will qualify. This is a major financial risk for owners and financiers holding such assets.
5. Ownership limits reshape fleet business models
The 5-vehicle limit for individuals and 100 for entities, plus the Aggregator licence at 25, will push mid-sized fleet operators into a second regulatory regime. Entities must also ensure adequate charging or battery-swapping arrangements, which is a real operating cost.
6. Penalty and fee amounts are not specified
The draft refers to penalties under the Motor Vehicles Act and the Scheme but gives no fee schedule for the ECC. Owners cannot yet budget compliance costs.
7. How this connects to the wider EV Policy
Delhi's EV Policy 2.0 sets an electric-only registration date of 1 January 2027 for auto-rickshaws and N1 goods carriers. The e-rickshaw scheme is a separate instrument with its own rules. Check carefully which incentives, if any, apply to e-rickshaws before building financial plans.
Business impact by stakeholder
Owners and driver-owners: Audit documents now. Plan for the ECC within 90 days of notification.
Fleet operators and entities: Rework fleet size, driver rosters and charging arrangements. Prepare for the Aggregator licence at 25 vehicles.
Dealers and OEMs: Ensure every model on your lot has valid type approval, and align your sales pitch to compliant vehicles.
NBFCs and lenders: Reassess collateral risk for older or non-compliant vehicles.
Insurers: Expect demand to spike as owners restore lapsed insurance.
Battery recyclers and charging or swapping providers: The scheme creates a clear compliance-driven market.
Driver training institutes: Demand for licensing and PSV badge support is likely to grow.
What to do now
Download the draft from the Transport Department website and read the annexures.
Audit your fleet against Categories A, B and C.
Prepare your document file for each vehicle and driver: RC, licence, PSV badge, fitness, insurance, battery proof, inspection report.
Model the financial impact of the fleet cap, one-driver rule and battery upgrade scenarios.
Submit feedback before the window closes. The circular allows 30 days from publication. Send comments by email to schemeconsultation2026@gmail.com or by post to DTO (Operations), Transport Department, Room No. 104, First Floor, 5/9 Underhill Road, Delhi-110054. Late inputs will not be considered.
Disclaimer: This article summarises a draft government document for general information and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified professional and refer to the final notified scheme before acting.
