The state government has decided to frame guidelines for “better regulation and safe operation” of private two-wheelers that work for commercial e-platforms to deliver goods in violation of norms.
At a meeting with representatives from different On Demand Technology Transportation Aggregators (ODTTAs) and other online platforms for food and consumer goods delivery on September 14, the state government made it clear that two-wheeler owners without valid permits will have to switch to the transport category or face legal action under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.
The state government will facilitate this process of conversion and operators can share their views and suggestions with the transport department to help in drawing up the proposed guidelines.
“We have asked all the operators, aggregators and other stakeholders to share their views by September 30 and they will be factored into the proposed guidelines,” said a senior official of the transport department.
“The state government will keep in mind the interests of the young and unemployed youths while framing the guidelines. But the conversion to commercial mode will be mandatory,” he added.
There are around 20,000 bike taxis operating in the state. The two-wheelers being used as bike taxis are mostly registered as private vehicles, transport department officials said. Apart from these operators, many bikes are used by different e-commerce platforms, delivering food or FMCG products. If all these bikes are counted, the number would be close to 60,000 across the state.
With several users voicing their reservations against switching to yellow commercial number plates fearing social stigma, senior officials said the government was considering two options while drawing up the proposed guidelines:
- Switch to a commercial vehicle by paying the requisite conversion fees, close to Rs 2000.
- Pay a smaller amount as a “permission fee” to operate for a particular online platform without switching to a yellow number plate. For any subsequent shift to another platform, the user will have to pay the fee again.
The state government has realised with online platforms and e-commerce activities multiplying exponentially, an increasing number will be joining these platforms with private vehicles.
Senior officials said the lack of definite guidelines on such activity could pose several challenges:
- The operation will be inviolation of provisions under the Central Motors Vehicles Acts and Rules.
- The government will have no data for such vehicles
- No insurance coverage for drivers and passengers
- Encourage may join such a fleet of two-wheeler operators.
“After a threadbare discussion it was decided that the transport department will come out with a detailed guideline/notification for better regulation and safe operation of these two-wheelers,” reads the minutes of the meeting, chaired by transport secretary Saumitra Mohan.
Senior police officers said a bike owner found to be engaged in commercial operations with a non-commercial registration can be charged a fine of Rs 5,000. “A repeat of the offence will attract a fine of Rs 10,000,” he said.