Ranchi will soon join the list of cities in India that have battery operated rickshaws plying on its roads. Around 135 hand-pulled rickshaws in Ranchi will be upgraded to battery-powered vehicles or electric rickshaws (e-rickshaws).
The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) had invited applications from rickshaw pullers who were keen to switch to e-rickshaws under the Jharkhand Rikshaw Chaalak Garima Yojna (e-rickshaw).
Under the scheme, the state government will provide e-rickshaws to the selected rickshaw pullers at a subsidised rate. While the government supports with 75% of the e-rickshaw cost, the remaining amount will have to be borne by the rickshaw puller.
The rickshaw pullers are being selected on the basis of four criteria – they have to be residents of Jharkhand, they should have operated a rickshaw in Ranchi for at least three years, they should be at least 21 years old and they should have a valid driving license.
The selected rickshaw pullers will undergo a test on Wednesday at Morhabadi ground, where they will be judged on their ability to "handle an e-rickshaw".
Source : BS Motoring
