Auto rickshaws must use solar power for charging to qualify for registration: State Minister

Battery-powered auto rickshaws are being brought under registration, but they must be charged using solar power, said Local Government State Minister Mir Shahe Alam.

He made the remarks at a meeting on solar power use in government offices and institutions under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives on Monday.

The state minister said battery-run rickshaws will be registered by city corporations and municipalities under a new legal framework, not by BRTA. Under the new rules, rickshaws will only be registered if their batteries are charged through solar power, and city corporations and municipalities will be responsible for enforcement.

The registration fee, renewal fee and necessary fitness certificates will be determined through regulations under the new law. Fitness certificates must be obtained from BUET or district-level diploma institutes with automobile departments, which will charge a fee for certification. Renewal will require fresh fitness checks.

For Dhaka, the city will be divided into eight zones — four in Dhaka South and four in Dhaka North — each assigned a different colour to restrict rickshaw movement to designated zones through geo-fencing. The Ministry is preparing regulations detailing route restrictions and penalties for violations, including fines for non-compliance with the solar charging requirement. The regulations are expected to be finalised next week.