Each station of the corridor in Noida and Greater Noida will get five new e-rickshaws under this initiative. A tender has been floated for operators who can run at least 15 e-rickshaws. “At least five e-rickshaws will be available at each station. An operator can submit an application for at least one cluster (comprising three stations) and run 15 e-rickshaws. The last date for application is March 31, 2022,” said Nisha Wadhawanan NMRC spokesperson.
Fares for these e-rickshaws will be in sync with the existing rates, the spokesperson said, adding that this will encourage more commuters to take the metro. Currently, the average daily ridership of Aqua Line is around 26,000. According to the norms laid down by the NMRC, all the e-rickshaws must be owned, managed and controlled by the operator. The vehicles must conform to specifications and standards set by the central government, and should have certification from concerned authorities, it said.
Charging facilities will be provided at the Metro stations, but operators will need to apply for an electrical connection that is billed.
Trained drivers in uniform will be employed to run these e-rickshaws, which will also be fitted with GPS tracking to ensure safety of the passengers.
Residents said the initiative will be beneficial but the NMRC should take suggestions on the routes to be followed by the e-rickshaws. “We welcome the move to launch e-rickshaw services. NMRC should get feedback from local residents, resident welfare associations and apartment owners associations in the two cities. The local residents will tell what major points should be covered in the e-rickshaw routes so that the maximum number of people utilise this service,” said Alok Singha resident of Sector Alpha 1 in Greater Noida.