Eco-friendly rickshaws get green signal for Delhi roads

New Delhi, February 20, 2011 (Gulf News): Delhiites will soon see a smart, state-of-the-art, zero-emission means of transportation equipped with advanced technical features, comfortable design and a striking shape, in place of the existing rickety rickshaws that have been plying in the city for ages.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is planning to introduce a hybrid between an autorickshaw and cycle-rickshaw, complete with a Global Positioning System (GPS) locator device fitted into it.

In its budget for the financial year 2011-12, the civic body has allowed at least 100 battery-operated e-rickshaws to start plying immediately, to begin with.

The civic agency has entered into a tie-up with a private firm which will own, operate and maintain these rickshaws. The company, which is also exporting the e-ricks to England, will get company advertisement rights in lieu of the service provided.

The current rickshaw pullers will be hired by the private firm on a monthly salary of Rs 4,000 (Dh320)-5,000 besides a medical insurance.

"The concept of e-rickshaws that we have in mind is something very smart and environment friendly. The e-ricks will ply in 272 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi," MCD leader Subhash Arya said.

Not only this, the Corporation has decided to provide mobile phones to e-rick pullers in the city.

"The rickshaw pullers would carry mobile phones which will help people call them like a usual cab service. With the facility of mobile, the rickshaws will be just a phone call away," Arya added.

Significantly, the mobile phones will be provided free of cost to the rickshaw pullers.

Sitting capacity

With sitting space for three persons, the e-rickshaw will work as feeder service for the Metro network in and around Green Park, Vikas Marg, Greater Kailash-I and II, Vasant Kunj, Vishwavidyalaya, Chandni Chowk, Red Fort, Qutab Minar, Saket, Defence Colony, Emporio Mall and Lajpat Nagar.

E-ricks, which will ply in the light motor vehicle lane, will be completely eco-friendly fitted with easily rechargeable batteries. Thousands of existing MCD parking lots in Delhi will provide the battery recharge facility for these e-ricks.

"Requiring a charging time of 6 to 8 hours, the e-rick can move at a speed of 25 km per hour. The important thing is that the e-rick, modelled on the ones plying in England, Australia, China, Canada, Denmark, Italy and Germany, is completely recyclable," Arya stated.

At night, the rickshaws would be parked at MCD parking sites. According to sources in MCD, the civic agency is in talks with some of the big malls in the Capital who are likely to allow recharging of rickshaws at their parking spots.

"E-ricks would be completely environment friendly. The drivers of these e-ricks will be provided special training to operate them. They will be trained in English speaking and basic etiquettes. They will also be provided special training to take tourists around the historical destinations of the city," Arya said.

The names and phone numbers of the rickshaw drivers will be put on the website of the civic agency. Besides, the MCD zonal offices and Citizen Service Bureaux would also display the numbers of the rickshaw pullers.

Initially, the civic agency planned to launch 4,000 e-rickshaws just before the Commonwealth Games, Delhi 2010. However, the plan could not take off in time. According to sources, if the experiment with 100-odd e-ricks succeeds this time, the 99,000 licenced rickshaws of the capital may gradually be replaced with their smarter version.

What do you think of the initiative? Would you prefer e-rickshaws to your car? Which other unique, eco-friendly mode of transport have you come across?
Photo :The three-seater rickshaws move at a speed of 25km/h and require 6-8 hours to charge. Operators will be provided with mobile phones which will help people reach them.
Image Credit: Karuna Madan/Gulf News