The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), in collaboration with SmartE, an electricity mobility service company, announced the launch of 1,000 electric rickshaws for better last-mile connectivity at metro stations in Gurugram and Faridabad.
The service was flagged off by Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari at HUDA City Centre metro station here on Monday.
Alternative fuels
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Gadkari said he favoured a transport system that was less dependent on petroleum fuels. He added that the government had plans to promote alternative fuels such as bio-diesel, bio-CNG and electricity-run vehicles.
Stating that he wanted an electricity-powered transport system, the Minister said electricity-run motorcycles, taxis and auto-rickshaws would be available in the country by the year-end. Minister of State for Urban Development Rao Inderjit Singh and DMRC Managing Director Mangu Singh were also present.
The DMRC and SmartE are also working to enable metro smart cards for SmartE ride payments and to drive the adoption of a common mobility card concept.
Made in India
The vehicles, which are completely ‘Made in India’, are loaded with features, including GPS tracking and sensors. The vehicles are designed keeping passengers’ safety and comfort in mind. The starting fare for the service is ₹10 for the first two km and ₹5 per km thereafter.
Goldie Srivastava, co-founder and CEO, SmartE, said it was a proud moment for the company as they took a step towards realising the government’s vision of making India a 100% electric vehicle nation by 2030.
Insurance
A maximum of four passengers can ride the e-rickshaw at a time. The vehicle and pilot are covered by insurance and there is also a third-party insurance.
The vehicles are battery-powered and therefore have zero emissions. Customers using the service can soon make digital payments as well.
