New Delhi, May 11 (FN Agency) The Delhi Government on Wednesday announced the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Scheme 2023 aimed at regulating cab-aggregators and delivery service providers in the national capital.A draft of the scheme was approved by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and sent it to the Delhi LG. The draft will then be put up for public feedback and comments by the Transport Department, after which it will be given its final shape, Delhi government communiqué said.While approving the scheme, Kejriwal stated that the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Scheme 2023 lays the foundation for regulating aggregators and delivery service providers in the city. “This scheme prioritises the safety of passengers and ensures timely grievance redressal, while also promoting the use of electric vehicles and reducing pollution levels in the city,” he said.
The CM further explained that by transitioning to electric vehicles and promoting electric bike taxis, the government will be able to reduce pollution levels in the city and create new opportunities for employment and economic growth, it said.The Motor Vehicle Aggregator Scheme 2023 will be applicable to any person or entity that operates, on-boards, or manages a fleet of motor vehicles through digital or electronic means or any other means to ferry passengers or connect a driver offering to deliver or pick up a product, courier, package, or parcel to connect with a seller, e-commerce entity, or consignor, it added.The scheme aims to ensure passenger safety during trips and service quality of cab aggregators while also promoting the transition to electric vehicles.
It will make it mandatory for aggregators to install a panic button and integration with 112 (Delhi Police) for emergencies. The scheme also includes a mechanism to ensure timely consumer grievance redressal by service providers, enforcement of vehicle fitness, pollution control, and validity of permits. It also provides for driver remedial training in instances where the driver’s performance is poor.The scheme provides for phased mandates for fleet operators to transition their fleet from conventional vehicles to electric. These mandates only apply to an incremental percentage of new on-boarded vehicles over a period of four years to avoid any knee-jerk reactions to existing livelihoods. For example, 5 percent of new on boarded cars need to be electric in the first 6 months of the scheme. The policy further mandates that after 4 years from its notification, all new commercial 2 wheelers and 3 wheelers will need to be EVs. Similarly, after 5 years from its notification, all new commercial 4 wheelers need to be EVs.
The Aggregator and Delivery service provider shall also be mandated to switch to an all electric fleet by April 1, 2030.The scheme also lays the foundation for a regulatory provision for bike taxis and rent-a-bike services. Since Delhi has never permitted bike-taxis to operate in the city, the scheme provides for such services to be regulated in the city. As a new business opportunity, the scheme ensures that all bike-taxis and two-wheeler renting services in the city shall only be via electric two-wheelers. These provisions are in-line with the Delhi EV Policy 2020.