Manav Mander
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, June 22, 2011
Eco-rickshaws are now a reality in the city. Chiefly made without wood, the rickshaw has been created by laying special emphasis on safety norms and comfort of passengers.
The passenger seat has been designed for extra comfort. The rickshaw comes equipped with a seat belt, sufficient luggage space under the seat, enough leg space on the platform, kids’ seat on the rear with an extended safety bar, a smart roof canopy, an FM radio and a first-aid kit.
In the near future, arrangements will also be made for “dial-a-rickshaw cab” in various cities, including Ludhiana, which will enhance the popularity of the rickshaw and encourage people to use it instead of auto or taxi for short-distance travel,” said RD Sharma, chairman of the company that has come out with the rickshaw.
This will contribute towards reducing pollution, easing traffic congestions and saving fuel. Also, it will create employment opportunity for rickshaw-pullers as the demand for the rickshaw grows. The entire rickshaw, barring its tyres, comes in green colour, keeping in sync with environment.
Sharma says such rickshaws are in great demand in European countries. “We have launched four models of the rickshaw and in the near future will come up with a battery-operated e-rickshaw as well. Our R&D team has been working on these rickshaws for the past four years, as we wanted to lay special focus on making the rickshaw-puller comfortable, while pulling the vehicle. Impact on the body of the puller from various angles while in motion has been studied and weight of the rickshaw has been kept between 65 kg and 70 kg. The conventional rickshaw weighs nearly 100 kg. Enough space has been created for dislay of advertisements, which will be a source of additional revenue for the rickshaw-puller.”
Buoyed by the demand for rickshaws in Europe, the company has developed a full-fledged rickshaw division. All components, including frame, fork, base, seats, canopy, and structure, are manufactured in their unit using quality raw material.
