Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, today inaugurated e-rickshaw service here.
RTO Kashmir Ikramullah Tak was also present on the occasion.
Shahid Iqbal urged the manufacturer of these e-rickshaws to prepare a DPR of setting up its manufacturing unit in Kashmir and submit the same. He said setting up of the unit would generate employment for the youth of valley.
On this occasion, DC also asked the authorities to incorporate this project under smart city in order to make the city pollution free.
While talking about the aim to introduce e-rickshaws in Srinagar, he said that primarily this was done to control increasing levels of pollution resulting from growing traffic in the city.
He urged the people to use this service and give feedback to government so that more and more e-rickshaws would ply on the roads.
During the inauguration, RTO Kashmir said that a 15-day trial period for the same would start from today itself and a technical team would keep on surveying it on daily basis to evaluate their capacity and other necessary aspects that would decide about their continuation.
Initially the service would be provided on three routes which include Dalgate to Nehru Park, Railway station to Bypass crossing and Chanapora to Bagh-e-Mehtab colony.
He said that once the trial period is over, the performance would be reviewed through a multi-stage process wherein Automotive Research India Limited must approve it and also an introduction certificate would be issued by State Transport Agency.
He maintained that till then neither e-rickshaws can run on the roads nor can be sold. He also said that permits would be allotted only when concerned dealers would get trade certificate from RTOs and ARTOs.
While talking about these battery-driven rickshaws, Managing Director, SARC Automobiles Limited, Naseer Ahmad, said that these are lithium battery operated that has all-weather feasibility and is computer operated and can be set according to the temperature.
According to him, a single battery can last up to 90 hours while a double battery can run for 120 hours and has a life of six years.