MLA Rais Shaikh Suggests 25% EV Subsidy for Drivers from Welfare Fund

Bhiwandi (East) Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh has written a letter to the State Transport Department suggesting changes to the Motor Vehicle Aggregators Rules, 2025 draft. He has proposed that drivers should receive a 25% subsidy on the cost of switching to electric vehicles (EVs) and that this subsidy should be provided through the Driver Welfare Fund.

The Transport Department had published the draft rules on October 9, and the last date for submitting suggestions and objections is October 26.

MLA Rais Shaikh said that to increase drivers’ income, the daily working hour limit should be extended, passengers should be allowed to cancel rides within a specified time without penalty, a government grievance redressal portal should be created, and there should be a delay compensation system for passengers. He also proposed that drivers’ medical and psychological tests be conducted through the aggregator fund, and that regular GPS inspections be made mandatory.

In his letter to the Transport Commissioner, Shaikh referred to Rules 18 and 20, recommending a phased adoption of electric vehicles to promote sustainable transport. He noted that drivers would not be able to bear the high costs of conversion, and therefore, a 25% subsidy from the Driver Welfare Fund would make the transition feasible.

Under Rule 17, Shaikh suggested major changes to the ride cancellation policy. He said, “Passengers should be fined only if the driver has reached within 200 meters of the pickup point. Additionally, passengers should be given 2–3 minutes after booking to cancel without any charges.”

Shaikh further stated that aggregators, not drivers, should bear penalties arising from software glitches or GPS errors. In cases of vehicle breakdowns, if the delay exceeds the set limit, 10% of the fare should be refunded to passengers. He also proposed creating a government portal for complaints that remain unresolved for more than seven days.

Under Rule 10, related to driver welfare, Shaikh emphasised that mandatory medical and psychological tests should be fully funded by aggregators, and the daily working hour limit should be increased to 14 hours to help boost drivers’ income.

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