Three years ago, the Amritsar Smart City Limited or the ASCL launched the RAAHi Project. It stands for the Rejuvenation of Auto-rickshaws in Amritsar through Holistic Intervention. The goal of this project was to get diesel auto-rickshaws off the road and to replace them with the more environmentally friendly electric rickshaws or e-ricks. However, only 950 rickshaws have made the switch from diesel to electric. Here are all of the important details that you would need to know.
RAAHI Project: Only 950 Auto Rickshaws Switched In The Last 3 Years
According to an article which was recently published by the Tribune, as of now, as many as 40,000 unauthorised diesel auto-rickshaws currently operate on the streets of Amritsar in Punjab. The scheme attempted to replace diesel rickshaws with electric ones.
In order to encourage more rickshaw drivers to become a part of the project, they were offered a subsidy of ₹1.25 lakh and ₹15,000. This subsidy was for the diesel rickshaw scrap. The amount was supposed to be paid in easy instalments by nationalised banks.
The ASCLE reserved ₹21 crore for this scheme. A whopping 7,440 diesel rickshaws were first approved for the scheme. However, not many people were willing to take the e-rickshaws.
Why Is The Programme Facing Such Difficulty?
It is unclear why the scheme is being met with such reticence. The officials are trying everything they can to get drivers to make the switch. They even launched the Pink Auto Project for women drivers and offered a 90 per cent subsidy.
However, only 70 pink electric rickshaws have been allotted to women drivers. What is more, even these rickshaws are being operated by the male members of their family as per the Tribune article. Despite the many efforts by the ASCL, only 950 e-rickshaws have been sold so far.
It is hoped that more people will see the benefits and join the scheme.
What do you think about the RAAHI Project? How do you think these challenges can be resolved? Let us know in the comments section below!
Cover Image Credits: Canva Images (For Representational Purposes Only)
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