CHANDIGARH: Now, rickshaws will be just a call away for the city residents.
'Chandigarh Ecocabs' ' dial-a-rickshaw facility ' was launched on Tuesday to facilitate easy access to the green mode.
Those having android application on their phones can avail the service. The application can be used for adding details of rickshaw puller as well as for searching one near your location. The numbers are available on the ecocab website.
After some time, users will be able to use the service through SMS notification. 'Around 20 sectors have already been covered and 60 to 70 rickshaw pullers registered in the initial 20 days,' said a spokesperson of the eco-cab campaign.
'We hope to equip most of the sectors with 25 to 30 rickshaw pullers in the next six months. They are being trained collectively. We will rope in Chandigarh police for the verification process,' he added.
The concept of dial-a-rickshaw service is based on a similar model that is running successfully in Fazilka town of Punjab since five years. Fazilka has nine call centres, which are actually tea shops that run near rickshaw stands. Whenever a resident calls for a rickshaw there, the tea vendor informs the service provider standing first in queue. This not only helps increase the income of rickshaw pullers, but also saves fuel and the environment.
'In Chandigarh, we cannot adopt a similar model as it's a bigger city and people don't know each other. That is why we have gone for community-driven platform for references. In UT, the outdoor advertising rules are very strong and we have to shell out Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per rickshaw which is not financially viable,' the spokesperson added.
