Kolkata, 11 October (H.S.): The West Bengal government has made registration of all e-rickshaws, commonly known as totos, mandatory in a bid to regulate their operations across the state. The state transport department has announced that all e-rickshaw owners must complete the registration process by November 30.

According to an official notification issued by the Transport Department on Saturday, every e-rickshaw will now be required to obtain a Digital Temporary Toto Enrolment Number (TTEN). The online registration process will commence on October 13.

A new digital portal has been launched to facilitate registration and enable QR code-based tracking of all registered e-rickshaws. This move aims to curb the operation of illegal vehicles and ensure better monitoring of movement and safety compliance.

Transport Secretary Saumitra Mohan stated that the government is taking strict measures against unregistered and unsafe e-rickshaws. All district magistrates have been instructed to identify and seize unregistered, battery-operated vehicles assembled in local garages.

“Many e-rickshaws do not comply with the standards set under the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1989. Manufacturing or assembling units that violate these norms will face legal action and sealing. Only those units that possess valid licenses adhering to prescribed safety standards will be allowed to operate,” Mohan said.

The department further clarified that e-rickshaws not built according to the approved prototype will not be permitted to ply on state or national highways. Local administrations have been directed to prepare detailed lists of all operating e-rickshaws, including owner information and route details.

Owners of unapproved e-rickshaws will be granted a two-year period to replace their vehicles with compliant models. Meanwhile, locally assembled vehicles or those approved by dealers’ associations or the National Testing Agency (NTA) will also need clearance from the Motor Vehicles Authority and installation of High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) before they can operate.

For temporary registration, unregistered owners will have to pay ₹1,000 for a six-month authorization number, while renewal will cost ₹100.

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Over 10 Lakh E-Rickshaws in Bengal

A senior transport department official estimated that over 10 lakh e-rickshaws are currently operating across the state. “Totos play a crucial role in local transportation and are a source of livelihood for lakhs of people. However, their unregulated growth has also led to congestion and safety issues. This initiative aims to bring their operation under a structured system,” the official said.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh