Unregistered e-rickshaws create traffic nuisance

By Siraj Khan, Nepalgunj, Oct. 29: The District Traffic Police Office (DTPO), Banke, said road accidents are increasing daily because of the large number of electric rickshaws operating in urban areas, including Nepalgunj.

According to the office, many e-rickshaws operate in Nepalgunj, Kohalpur, and Khajura, but most drivers lack driving licences, and the rickshaws are not covered by accident insurance.

Kanak Bahadur Shahi, chief of the DTPO, said accidents were increasing because drivers were allowed to operate rickshaws without training or licences, leading to a lack of discipline. This has also affected traffic management across the district. He said managing e-rickshaws had become increasingly challenging for the authorities. 

Stating that e-rickshaws had thrown traffic in Nepalgunj into disarray, Shahi said, “We have made many efforts to manage them, but the task has become extremely challenging because not all rickshaw drivers have licences or have received training.” According to data from the DTPO, 179 electric rickshaws were involved in accidents in Fiscal Year 2025/26. The figures show that 104 rickshaws met with accidents in FY 2024/25 and 12 in 2023/24.