Bhubaneswar: To expand last-mile connectivity in the city and bring public transport closer to more doorsteps, Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) has planned to add more routes by procuring additional e-rickshaws. The plan will also boost the livelihood of women from lower strata, as e-rickshaws are mostly operated by them. Currently, 50 e-rickshaws operate in the city’s north zone picking up passengers from bus stops and taking them to interiors close to people’s homes for just Rs 10 per head.
Managing director of CRUT N Thirumala Naik said they are planning to add more routes and e-rickshaws. “We are working on what could possibly be the way to take it forward by conducting a survey. We are yet to finalise how many e-rickshaws will be procured,” said Naik.
The last-mile connectivity concept is an arm of the Ama Bus, the city bus service with a fleet size of more than 500 buses. “The electric rickshaw system acts as a feeder service, enhancing last-mile connectivity, making it safe, accessible, gender-sensitive, smart, affordable, and socially inclusive,” he added.
CRUT sources said from bus stops, e-rickshaws can cover a maximum of three km towards residential areas at a speed not exceeding 30 kmph. There are four seats in the rickshaws, and people can travel on a shared basis.
In 2022, CRUT started e-autos that are run by women and transgender drivers. The trained women drivers take passengers from nearby bus stops to desired locations in nearby localities. CRUT officials said they selected the women and provided the e-rickshaws, which they charge at night and start working at 8.30 am, wrapping up at 6.30 pm. Currently, they are operating on 10 routes.