No badge needed for tourists driving rented cab\, bike

News

No badge needed for tourists driving rented cab, bike

PTI New Delhi | Updated on June 01, 2020 Published on June 01, 2020

Tourists and others hiring cabs and motorcycles for self-driving will not be required to carry badges if they are holding a domestic driving licence or an international driving permit (IDP), the government said on Monday.

Also, two-wheelers under ‘Rent a Motorcycle’ scheme will be allowed to drive across states on payment of relevant taxes, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in an advisory to states asking them to implement the scheme.

Cabs and motorcycles under ‘Rent a Motorcycle’ and ‘Rent a Cab’ schemes are not required to carry badges, the ministry said in an advisory to transport secretaries and commissioners of the states.

“It is advised that the person driving the commercial vehicle carrying the valid driving licence/IDP and a copy of licence for renting motor cab or for the motorcycle of respective scheme should not be insisted for any badge,” the advisory to the states said.

A commercial vehicle’s driver is required to display a ‘badge’ issued by the Commissioner along with the name of the authority which has granted an authorisation to drive a public service vehicle, with an identification number.

These vehicles are meant to be used by tourists, corporate officials, business travellers and families on holidays and are generally being hired by people carrying domestic driving licence or IDPs, it said adding these private licence holders are not required to carry badges as required for commercial vehicles.

It clarified that no separate endorsement would be required for commercial vehicles like motorcycle without gear, motorcycle with gear, light motor vehicle (goods and passenger) and e-rickshaw and e-carts.

It cited a judgement by the Supreme Court that “the requirement under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to obtain the transport licence would arise in case of medium/heavy goods and passengers vehicle only.”

The communication mentioned: “No other vehicle will require any separate endorsement, even if they are used for commercial purposes.”

The ministry also asked the states to implement ‘Rent a Motorcycle’ scheme by granting licences to operators.

“Further, two-wheelers with licence under ‘Rent a Motorcycle Scheme’ be allowed to drive across the states on payment of relevant taxes,” it said.

The ministry had earlier notified guidelines for ‘Rent a Cab’ and ‘Rent a Motorcycle’ schemes.

Published on June 01, 2020

A letter from the Editor

Dear Readers,

The coronavirus crisis has changed the world completely in the last few months. All of us have been locked into our homes, economic activity has come to a near standstill. Everyone has been impacted.

Including your favourite business and financial newspaper. Our printing and distribution chains have been severely disrupted across the country, leaving readers without access to newspapers. Newspaper delivery agents have also been unable to service their customers because of multiple restrictions.

In these difficult times, we, at BusinessLine have been working continuously every day so that you are informed about all the developments – whether on the pandemic, on policy responses, or the impact on the world of business and finance. Our team has been working round the clock to keep track of developments so that you – the reader – gets accurate information and actionable insights so that you can protect your jobs, businesses, finances and investments.

We are trying our best to ensure the newspaper reaches your hands every day. We have also ensured that even if your paper is not delivered, you can access BusinessLine in the e-paper format – just as it appears in print. Our website and apps too, are updated every minute, so that you can access the information you want anywhere, anytime.

But all this comes at a heavy cost. As you are aware, the lockdowns have wiped out almost all our entire revenue stream. Sustaining our quality journalism has become extremely challenging. That we have managed so far is thanks to your support. I thank all our subscribers – print and digital – for your support.

I appeal to all or readers to help us navigate these challenging times and help sustain one of the truly independent and credible voices in the world of Indian journalism. Doing so is easy. You can help us enormously simply by subscribing to our digital or e-paper editions. We offer several affordable subscription plans for our website, which includes Portfolio, our investment advisory section that offers rich investment advice from our highly qualified, in-house Research Bureau, the only such team in the Indian newspaper industry.

A little help from you can make a huge difference to the cause of quality journalism!

Support Quality Journalism
Panel chalks out ₹10,000-crore scheme to boost domestic API production