india

Updated: Apr 05, 2016 15:09 IST

Cab aggregator Ola has now ventured to improve last mile connectivity, with the launch of e-rickshaws on its mobile app. The first of the e-rickshaws will be booked on the Ola app by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will arrive at Noida for the launch of ‘Stand up India’ initiative at 4pm on Tuesday.

A total of 5100 e-rickshaws are slated to be distributed to promote the migration of pedal rickshaw operators to the new e-rickshaws. Out of 5100, Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida will receive 1000 each while neighbouring Ghaziabad will get 2000 e-rickshaws at the event.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi will book the first e-rickshaw through the Ola app at the event and will pay online. He will also conduct a ‘Chai pe charcha’ at the event. He will discuss issues with 27 persons including e-rickshaw beneficiaries, labourers and e-rickshaw charging centre employees at the venue,” said Vijay Pandey, managing director of Bhartiya Micro Credit (BMC), the company which is facilitating the e-rickshaw distribution event.

The BMC has also planned to open e-rickshaw charging centres across NCR to enable the e-rickshaw operators charge their rickshaws while on the move.

An Ola spokesperson said that the vehicles will be deployed across Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad under a tie up with BMC.

“This will be further scaled up in the coming months to smaller towns and tier 3 cities across the country. Each of the e-rickshaw operators will get a smartphone to connect to the Ola app and the customer and the base fare will start at Rs 8,” the Ola spokesperson said.

Residents across the NCR cities and towns suffer the issue of last mile connectivity. E-rickshaws will provide an affordable and greener alternative that can serve mobility needs.

“The transportation needs of users in smaller towns and sustainable alternatives for cycle rickshaw peddlers, will be solved for with the introduction of e-rickshaws on the Ola app, which are affordable, environment friendly and convenient to hail,” said Pranay Jivrajka, chief operating officer Ola said.

Apart from employment generation, Ola and BMC will also set up and run skill development centers in NCR towns to enable continuous skill and training for thousands of rickshaw driver-entrepreneurs. Out of 5100 beneficiaries, the BMC has also arranged e-rickshaw distribution to 151 women from the NCR region.

“The Government is committed to enabling better livelihoods through high impact skill initiatives and opportunity creation. E-rickshaws are not only sustainable, but also a simple, yet very effective solution to an otherwise physically taxing pedal rickshaw riding,” said Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for tourism and civil aviation.