Quadricycles like Bajaj RE60 finally get govt. nod

The Centre on Wednesday decided to allow manufacturing and plying of a new category of four-wheeler on Indian roads — the ‘quadricycle’. The issue — which sharply divided the auto industry in recent months, with small car makers and some two-wheeler companies against the idea while others rooting for it — has now been settled with the road transport and highways ministry announcing that the quadricycle will be allowed to ply as a transport (commercial) vehicle carrying both passenger and goods within city limits and on rural roads. 

With this, the government has put a lid on the controversy, at least for the time being. The issue would have snowballed into a major problem if the quadricycle was allowed as a personal vehicle, a demand that was pursued by Bajaj Auto. The two-wheeler major has invested Rs 550 crore in developing the platform and created enough capacity to produce 5,000 quadricycles a month and will likely launch its product (RE60) soon after the government notifies its decision. 

“A separate category has been proposed for notification to include quadricycle with specifications adopting present norms notified in the three-wheeler category of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), or the European Union quadricycle, whichever is more stringent,” a road transport ministry statement said. For example, the vehicles need to be registered as commercial vehicles, the driver has to have a valid driving licence and every such vehicle must have a first aid box. In Europe, there is no such norm. 

Transport secretary Vijay Chhibber, who chaired the meeting to discuss the issue, said the new category of vehicle is being seen as an improved and safer version of the ubiquitous auto-rickshaw. “The idea is to provide a safer option for intermediate public transport for last mile connectivity to people, but at the same time not to create more stress in the already stressed small car market in the country,” he added. 

NEW WHEELS 

1. 4-wheeler with hard top, doors & wipers 
2. Fuel: Petrol, CNG & LPG 
3. Max speed 70 kmph 
4. Seating capacity for four 
5. Registration as commercial vehicle only 
6. Mass & noise emissions, brakes, controls & indicators to be better than 3-wheeler standards 
7. A big ‘Q’ written on the body or a colour code 

KEY ISSUES 

1. Whether drivers need commercial licence 
2. Collision protection/rear collision & pedestrian safety aspects
3. Movement of vehicle and permits to be decided by states 

WHAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN 

Whether 3-wheeler manufacturers will push the product when these will end up replacing their own auto-rickshaws.

Also read: Bajaj RE60 four-wheeler unveiled