In Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, people are buying more electric vehicles than electric rickshaws, and hence e-rickshaws couldn’t make an impression in the city. But officials believe that e-rickshaws have a bright future and will become popular gradually.
Pune’s deputy RTO Sanjiv Bhor said, “In 2017, there were a few e-rickshaw registrations and in 2018 there were some more as well. As per the regulations of the transport department, e-rickshaws for passengers in the state can only ply on selected routes. Most of these vehicles don’t have enough speed and can cause a traffic jam. Somehow, the plan has not worked in Pune. However, a new model of the e-vehicle ‘LM5’, which looks exactly like an autorickshaw and has power and speed. It has been gaining popularity and is being registered too. In 2021, around five registrations have already been done, apart from general e-vehicles, which too are on the rise.”
Over 6000 electric vehicles were registered in the city of Pune RTO till 27th December 2021 and 4400 in Pimpri Chinchwad RTO. E-rickshaws are currently allowed in designated routes by the traffic police. In 2017, the traffic police selected 17 routes with Pune RTO. People are concerned about charging electric vehicles and the cost of owning e-vehicles.
“E-rickshaws have been plying successfully in many cities for around five years now. We were simply not allowed to ply by the regular autorickshaw drivers, who felt that their monopoly would end. There were problems, arguments, and squabbles and we didn’t get the proper support of authorities. If planned and executed carefully, small four-seaters would have been successful in providing the last mile connectivity. I changed my e-rickshaw to an e-cart,” a driver said.
