Gurgaon: Autorickshaw driver in a camp organized by the civic body Vijay Singh Asked a salesman of the company: If the battery of an e-auto stops working, how will it be fixed?
The seller replied that it would need to be replaced. To this, Singh voiced his follow-up question: “How much will it cost?”
“Rs 1 lakh,” replied the seller hesitantly.
Moments later, Singh told his friend, an autorickshaw driver, that switching to e-autos would be costly.
They were both attending a camp organized by the civic body to address concerns over the government’s new plan to phase out old petrol and diesel-run autos from the city by April 1. Under this initiative, the cost of an e-procurement. Autorickshaw drivers will have to bear it, but they will get subsidy if they do so.
Not that drivers are closed to the idea of using electric autorickshaws, he said, adding that they have valid concerns.
These include limited power infrastructure for electric vehicles such as charging stations and the financial liability to buy and maintain e-autos.
“As of now there are few charging stations in the city. If the government wants us all to switch to e-autos, the infrastructure has to be strong,” Singh, who has been driving autorickshaws in Gurgaon for the last three years, said.
Mayor Madhu Azad, at the camp on Thursday, attempted to allay their concerns. He said that free charging stations have been set up in Sector 42 office. mcgSector 29-Fire Station and Sector 27-Community Centre.
“Under the state government’s e-Parivartan project, the MCG, district administration, Gurgaon traffic police and the transport department are collaborating to replace old diesel and petrol autos with e-autos. The camp was organized to address the concerns of the auto drivers,” Azad said.
Another issue raised by a driver association was getting loans without guarantee.
“Auto drivers want to switch to e-autos but there are challenges. We spoke to the representatives of the bank today (Thursday) and we were told that if the auto drivers have a house in their name, the bank will give them a loan. Most of the auto drivers here live in rented accommodation.” Yogesh SharmaGeneral Secretary of the Auto Drivers’ Association.
Meanwhile, MCG officials said that they expect a positive response from the drivers. An MCG spokesperson said, “100 auto drivers registered for switching to e-autos in the camp on Thursday.” SS Rohilla,
The seller replied that it would need to be replaced. To this, Singh voiced his follow-up question: “How much will it cost?”
“Rs 1 lakh,” replied the seller hesitantly.
Moments later, Singh told his friend, an autorickshaw driver, that switching to e-autos would be costly.
They were both attending a camp organized by the civic body to address concerns over the government’s new plan to phase out old petrol and diesel-run autos from the city by April 1. Under this initiative, the cost of an e-procurement. Autorickshaw drivers will have to bear it, but they will get subsidy if they do so.
Not that drivers are closed to the idea of using electric autorickshaws, he said, adding that they have valid concerns.
These include limited power infrastructure for electric vehicles such as charging stations and the financial liability to buy and maintain e-autos.
“As of now there are few charging stations in the city. If the government wants us all to switch to e-autos, the infrastructure has to be strong,” Singh, who has been driving autorickshaws in Gurgaon for the last three years, said.
Mayor Madhu Azad, at the camp on Thursday, attempted to allay their concerns. He said that free charging stations have been set up in Sector 42 office. mcgSector 29-Fire Station and Sector 27-Community Centre.
“Under the state government’s e-Parivartan project, the MCG, district administration, Gurgaon traffic police and the transport department are collaborating to replace old diesel and petrol autos with e-autos. The camp was organized to address the concerns of the auto drivers,” Azad said.
Another issue raised by a driver association was getting loans without guarantee.
“Auto drivers want to switch to e-autos but there are challenges. We spoke to the representatives of the bank today (Thursday) and we were told that if the auto drivers have a house in their name, the bank will give them a loan. Most of the auto drivers here live in rented accommodation.” Yogesh SharmaGeneral Secretary of the Auto Drivers’ Association.
Meanwhile, MCG officials said that they expect a positive response from the drivers. An MCG spokesperson said, “100 auto drivers registered for switching to e-autos in the camp on Thursday.” SS Rohilla,