Eco-rickshaws to grace roads soon-Ludhiana

A rickshaw can save 3 litre fuel per day.To burn one litre fuel, we need 15.2 kg fresh air. This will help in keeping the environment clean, Navdeep Asija,

Commuting was never going to be this easy and affordable. In a first of its kind endeavour, residents will soon be able to avail the dial-a-rickshaw facility. On the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the district administration has decided to implement dial-arickshaw scheme for the benefit of people.

With this, residents will be able to avail eco-friendly rickshaws or `eco cabs' at their doorstep. The man behind the innovation is Navdeep Asija, an IIT alumnus and a resident of Fazilika. When Asija made an ecofriendly rickshaw or eco-cab around two years ago, little did he imagine that his invention would bring him name and fame, besides enforce a change in the Urban Transportation Act of the state.

"I invented the rickshaw for my mother. She always found it difficult to call a rickshaw at home during my absence. To solve her problem, I gave a phone to a tea vendor and asked him to send her a rickshaw whenever she called him (tea vendor)," Asija said.

Fascinated at the benefits of the eco-cabs, the high court has directed the states to implement eco-cabs in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

Acting on the directives of the court, both states and UT have agreed to implement the same. Asija said, "My invention provided me a chance to address the deputy commissioner of all districts of Punjab." He made a presentation at the office of secretary culture, where a meeting had been called to implement the high court's directions here on Wednesday.

"I was not sure that my model will become so successful. While the high court has passed directions to implement it in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, some private persons are already replicating it in Bihar, Gujrat and Uttar Pradesh," he said.

"The facility is one of its kind on the lines of `dial a taxi' launched on June 20, 2008. This remained operational till April 2010. The landline numbers were given to five rickshaw call centres. This was part of the pilot study and maintenance.
Later, the same was replaced by mobile numbers," he said.

"The rickshaw's special design has reduced its weight by 20 kg, which means easy pulling. It has low-floor facility for women and elderly, FM radio, water bottle, stand for reading magazine or newspaper and space for luggage and first-aid box, besides a folded sleeping arrangement for traction men," Asija said "One rickshaw can save around 3 litre fuel per day. To burn one litre fuel, we need 15.2 kg fresh air. This will also help in keeping the environment clean."

DC Rahul Tewari, who attended the meet, said, "The district administration is planning to launch the scheme by next two months."

"We will bring modernised rickshaws designed by Navdeep and also set up a call centre." He said there was need to provide eco-friendly transportation to residents of Ludhiana.
"The city has nearly 40,000 rickshaws and if they all convert into eco-cabs, it will save petrol and cut down pollution," the DC said.