Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu flagged-off ten smart electric cost-effective & eco-friendly vehicles, a first of its kind, on Tuesday for improved waste management. The vehicles manufactured by Hyderabad based startup ‘Gayam Motor Works’ will be used for waste collection and disposal in the city as a pilot project. Vijayawada Muncipal Corporation officials after the success of pilot project will replace all the garbage vehicles with the electric auto rickshaw.

However, the state government has not yet given permission to operate electric vehicles on roads. As per the Motor Vehicle Registration Act, e-rickshaws cannot move on the roads carrying passengers or goods. A file related to the registration is pending with the transport department for two years now. However, VMC has initiated the pilot project.

The vehicle will operate on contract carriage permit and has to follow certain rules and regulations. The safety standards of the e-rickshaws must adhere to the GOI vide notification No S.O. 2590 (E), 2014

These vehicles cannot operate on highways, cannot exceed more than 40kgs weight in total and the number of passengers must not exceed in capacity. The decision of the AP government to allow the vehicles is pending.