Govt plans to regulate battery rickshaw production in Dhaka: DSCC administrator

The government is moving to bring battery-powered and motorised rickshaws in Dhaka under a more structured regulatory framework, with plans to designate specific factories to produce approved vehicles and curb unauthorised manufacturing, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Abdus Salam said today.

He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after inaugurating an automated traffic signal system on a trial basis at Shahbagh intersection.

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Salam said an inter-ministerial meeting was held today, where officials discussed formulating regulations for battery-powered autorickshaws. Once the rules are finalised and implemented, unauthorised manufacturing, charging and parking of such vehicles will be restricted.

The DSCC administrator said approved autorickshaws and motorised rickshaws would not be allowed to be manufactured indiscriminately. Specific factories would be designated for production in Dhaka, and manufacturers would need approval from the relevant authorities.

Under the proposed policy, specific types, models and designs of rickshaws will be developed, with technical assistance from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), he said.

Companies will be able to apply for permission to manufacture the approved models, while people interested in operating the vehicles will be able to purchase them from authorised factories, he said.

However, the number of rickshaws allowed to operate in Dhaka will be determined in coordination with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Salam said.

He also said the government plans to gradually transition battery-powered rickshaws to electric systems within a specified timeframe. Greater use of solar power is also being considered to reduce pressure on the electricity grid.