E-rickshaw to provide last mile connectivity for Mansarovar locals

Operating at an average of less than 20 per cent of its design capacity, the Jaipur Metro has improved upon the numbers. The number of passengers travelling on the first phase between Mansarovar and Chandpole has increased 25 per cent over the past three months. The rise has come following various measures adopted by the Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC) including withdrawing peak hour charges and increasing frequency of trains. In the sequence for making metro more passenger friendly, the JMRC has commenced E-rickshaw services to provide last mile connectivity.

“A survey of the metro users revealed the requirement of higher frequency, lower fare and last mile connectivity. Steps taken in the direction have yielded positive results in increasing ridership,” said GS Bhawaria, director operations at JMRC. “The E-Rickshaw services are being initiated to provide last mile connectivity for residents of Mansarovar and nearby areas,” he added.

Initially, 20 such e-rickshaws have been introduced on circuits connecting Mansarovar and New Aatish Market Station to Agarwal Farm, Gopalpura Mode, and Ajmer Road. These rickshaws will have a capacity of 4 passengers and will charge fix rate of Rs 5 and Rs 10 as decided upon by the JMRC. The number of these rickshaws will soon be increased to 50 and will be extended further if required.

It was, however, not an easy task for the JMRC to find partners for e-Rickshaw. There was a legal hurdle in outsourcing the project to a single firm as the current law’s provisions only one e-rickshaw to be owned by an individual.

Thus, special permission was secured from the government for the purpose of Jaipur Metro. The tenders for the service were withdrawn a couple of times due to the absence of bidders before the JMRC found the contractor for the purpose. The Jaipur metro presently operational on a single route between Mansarovar to Chandpole, offering partial connectivity to citizens.

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