Govt allots Rs 270 crore for solar-powered rickshaws

“We will provide motorised rickshaws to each rickshaw-puller in the state. We are in talks with several companies like Scooter India,Hero Honda and Bajaj for manufacturing of these rickshaws. We might opt for global tendering for choosing the manufacturer,”said Minister of Urban Development Azam Khan.

“Since the state has a very large number of rickshaw pullers,the distribution of rickshaws will be done “as and when the rickshaws are manufactured”,Khan said.

In its manifesto,the party had promised to provide a solar-powered,motorised rickshaw free of cost to each rickshaw puller. The state has an estimated 1.75 lakh rickshaw pullers. All rickshaws registered before March 15,when the SP government was formed,will be replaced in phases. Since each rickshaw is expected to cost around Rs 1 lakh,the scheme will involve an expenditure of Rs 1,750 crore.

The rickshaws will be fitted with a motor run on battery,which can either be charged through solar power or at battery charging centres that will be put up at various places in the city.

The previous BSP government had distributed around 100 battery-operated rickshaws that could be charged with solar energy in Lucknow.

The rickshaws were distributed on Mayawati’s birthday for two consecutive years by the State Urban Development Agency under the Urban Self Employment Programme of the Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana.

It was a Government of India-sponsored programme in which 25 per cent of the cost was shared by the Centre and the state government. The beneficiaries had to make five per cent down payment and the balance of 70 per cent was arranged as bank loan on easy installments.

However,the rickshaws,supplied by Hindustan Steel Industries,turned out to be of poor quality.

As most of the rickshaws broke down,the pullers were often unable to pay the installments.