In the driver's seat: E-rickshaws driven by women to ply in Uttarakhand

In a first, Rudrapur and other cities in Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand are all set to welcome e-rickshaws which will have women driving them. Aiming to reduce the pollution in the region, the transport department has invited applications for registering permits, and a large number of women have stepped forward to take up this means of livelihood.

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According to Regional Transport Officer Nand Kishore, US Nagar district, till the date, nearly 55 applications have been received, out of which 15 applicants are from Rudrapur. A total of 900 rickshaws have been announced in Rudrapur, Kashipur, Gadarpur, Bajpur, Jaspur, and Nanakmatta towns of the district. The other towns in the division which have been provided with e-rickshaws are Haldwani, Ramnagar, Lalkuan, Kiccha, Banbasa and Kaladhungi. Haldwani will have the maximum number of e-rickshaws at 485 followed by Kashipur (470), Rudrapur (415) and Tanakpur (80). Lalkuan, Kaladhun and Ramnagar will get the collective share of 175.

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Plans are afoot to ply e-rickshaws in Nainital as well. The total invited application number is 1,625 e-rickshaws in the Kumaon division. E-rickshaw drivers, who had been protesting for a while against the administration's decision of not granting permission to ply their vehicle on the road, are no doubt a relieved lot.  

Feature Image Credit: newindianexpress.com

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