Monday, 22 April 2024 | PNS | NAINITAL
More electric rickshaws have been procured at the municipality level to replace the cycle rickshaws which have been phased out on the Mall Road in Nainital city. The cycle rickshaws had been operating on this road since the British colonial era. The municipality procured six e-rickshaws on Saturday with officials stating that seven more e-rickshaws will be procured in the near future. The metal and parts of the cycle rickshaws along with 10 cycle rickshaws will then be sold for scrap.
The British had first introduced hand pulled rickshaws in Nainital city for public transport. After some years, these were replaced by cycle rickshaws in 1942 and these remained the main means of public transport on the Mall Road for many years. Separate laws and rules were made by the municipality for the 82 cycle rickshaws licensed to operate here. Considering the changing times and requirements, the Janhit organisation demanded in 2016 that the cycle rickshaws should be replaced by e-rickshaws. About two years ago, the municipality introduced the operation of e-rickshaws and gradually the number of e-rickshaws here increased to 20.
After completely phasing out the cycle rickshaws, the municipality will display one cycle rickshaw in the park to keep its memory alive. The rickshaw union head Nanda Vallabh Joshi said that in addition to 20 e-rickshaws operating at present, seven more will be procured within two weeks. A meeting is slated to be held with the executive officer of the municipality regarding hike in fare of the e-rickshaws, he added.
