Patiala: Eco-friendly Radio Rickshaw Service Launched
A local NGO has launched Patiala Green Cabs, an eco-friendly cycle rickshaw service, in the city.
The service was flagged off yesterday by Chairman, Patiala District Planning Committee, Surjit Singh Rakhra and Patiala Divisional Commissioner G S Grewal.
"The basic idea of the project Patiala Green Cabs is to promote eco-friendly, short distance mode of transport, besides offering a sustainable livelihood to rickshaw pullers," Ravi Singh Ahaluwalia, general secretary of the NGO, Patiala Foundation, said.
Equipped with FM radio sets and first-aid kits, the rickshaws are made of metal, making them light weight, he said, adding each rickshaw would cost the NGO Rs 9,700 and the vehicles are manufactured from a unit in Meerut.
"We have divided Patiala city into 12 zones and each zone would spread over an area of 1.5-km radius. To begin with, we have launched the project in one zone of Leela Bhawan, where 10 such rickshaws will ply," he said, adding that the NGO would give the vehicles to the rickshaw pullers at a nominal daily rent of Rs 20.
He further said the NGO would provide uniform, identity card and health insurance of Rs 1 lakh to each rickshaw puller.
The entire project is being funded by Patiala Foundation and gradually the project would be implemented in entire city, he said.
