Mubashir Alam Wani
Srinagar, Apr 22: Residents of HMT and its adjoining areas have urged transport authorities in Kashmir to start E-rickshaw service in their areas to alleviate commuting challenges.
Highlighting the difficulties faced by the people, Touseef Ramzan, a local resident, said that in absence of E-rickshaws they have to travel at least three kilometres to reach nearest bus stop, a discomfort to women and elderly people in the area.
“The government is saying we have made e-rickshaws available and as a last mile connectivity vehicle, but in our case it does not exist anywhere. We want immediate start of the service in our area”, he said.
Muzaffar Ahmad, a resident of Zainakote area said that earlier mini buses used to come after every five minutes from their area and now they have to travel to either to main highway or HMT bus stop to catch a public transport vehicle.
Similarly, a resident from another locality of HMT, Zahoor Ahmad from Khusipora area highlighted plight of residents crossing through multiple localities, stressing the necessity for E-rickshaw services to bridge the transportation gap in their area.
“There are four Mohallahs in our area and everyone does not have personal vehicle and people have to cover a good distance on their own to reach main market or bus stop”, he said.
In their plea to the transport authorities, residents stressed the urgency of initiating E-rickshaw services to provide relief to schoolchildren, college students, women, and the elderly population in the area.
A senior RTO official said that youth aspiring to operate E-rickshaws can acquire the vehicles without the need for a permit.
Stressing the importance of locality-specific e-rickshaw service, the official encouraged those interested from HMT area to approach the transport authorities for authorisation to start e-rickshaw services in the interior areas of HMT.
