Electric rickshaws: Delhi
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
(Electric) E-rickshaws
2016-17: a major traffic hazard
Sidhartha Roy, Why e-ricks are biggest traffic hazards, June 10, 2017: The Times of India
Only A Third Of The Green Vehicles Plying On Delhi Roads Are Registered
The first e-rickshaws were seen around 2012 and have since ballooned in the past five years, mostly because of the last-mile connectivity they provide at pocket-friendly rates. The Delhi government's transport department doesn't have a record of the exact number of e-rickshaws operating in the city , but estimates that there are over a lakh such vehicles.
In 2014, following a central notification, the Delhi government had laid down operating guidelines. But these are rarely followed. A little more than 30,000 erickshaws are registered with the government. That means over 70% of such vehicles are unregulated.
Most e-rickshaws ply overloaded with passengers and goods and are often driven rashly , flouting all kinds of rules. Many have been involved in fatal accidents. For instance, in July 2014, a child died in Trilokpuri when it fell into boiling sugar syrup after being hit by an e-rickshaw. This incident had resulted in the Delhi high court intervening and ordering the vehicles off the road pending the promulgation of a regulatory mechanism.
Now, guidelines are in place but enforcement is a major problem. The government cites lack of manpower. “Of a total sanctioned strength of 810, we just have 183 in the enforcement wing,“ an official said on condition of anonymity . “There are also practical problems involved in impounding unregistered e-rickshaws. These are battery operated and cannot be made to travel long distances to the dumping yards. Also, we don't have enough space to park impounded e-rickshaws,“ he said. Transport department officials prefer to pass the buck to the traffic police.
But there are many who feel e-rickshaws are a necessary evil. Paharganj resident Ketan Manchanda (26) is among them. “An e-rickshaw ride is not a comfortable one.The drivers pack the vehicles with more than four passengers and these are so light that you can feel the e-rickshaw vibrate when a bigger vehicle passes by . Also, these are driven so rashly that there is always the danger of the vehicle toppling over at sharp turns,“ he said.
E-rickshaws have also seen a whole new industry grow around them. There are 266 registered e-rickshaw manufacturers. Most of the components, such as motors and controllers, are imported from China and assembled locally. “Earlier most of the parts were imported from China but now many parts are manufactured in India too,“ said Sunil Maggo who runs a dealership in Paharganj.
Then there are the spare parts shops and garages that let drivers charge a vehicle overnight for a nominal fee as low as Rs 100. There is a separate industry involving the resale of used batteries. But there is no policy for their safe disposal yet.
