The Indian government has finally put an end to the debate on legalizing the Quadricycles by giving them a green signal, but for restricted use. The new ‘Q’ category of vehicles will be allowed to ply within city limits and on rural roads as a mode of public transport.
The biggest gainer of the new ruling will be Bajaj who will soon launch the RE60 as a possible replacement for three-wheelers. The rules specify that the Quadricycles can be registered only as commercial vehicles to carry both goods and passengers.
"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 has confirmed.
Many car and bike makers had opposed Quadricycles, as they might put additional pressure on already suffering two wheelers and small car market. However, since these vehicles can only be registered for commercial use, it is not going to affect sales of personal vehicles.
The Bajaj RE60 is expected to be the first vehicle in the segment. It is powered by 200cc DTSi petrol engine with a top-speed of 70kph and efficiency of around 30kpl. The main advantage of this model is that it safer than the three-wheelers and will also provide better comforts to passengers with air conditioner.
Read our preview of the Bajaj RE60
