[sustran] Fazilka eco-cab clinches National Urban Mobility Award-2011

[Asija, Navdeep]

Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, November 30

The eco-cabs of Fazilka have become a national benchmark for the best
transportation project for the country in the area of non-motorised
transportation (NMT). A leading NGO of the border town, the Graduates
Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF), has been declared as winner of the
country's most prestigious National Urban Mobility Award-2011 by the
Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, today evening.

The award was selected amongst the best and unique practices being followed
across the country. The award would be given by the Union Minister of the
Urban Development Kamal Nath on December 6 at the concluding day ceremony
of the fourth Urban Mobility India Conference-2011 in New Delhi.

Notably, the best non-motor transport practice award is given annually to a
city that uses non-motor transport innovations to increase mobility for all
residents while reducing transportation greenhouse and air pollution
emissions by increasing accessibility, safety and comfort.

The award would jointly be received by the GWAF general secretary Navdeep
Asija, patron Dr Bhupinder Singh on behalf of the GWAF, Deputy Commissioner
Dr Basant Garg and Anil Sethi, president, Municipal Council, Fazilka.

"The first credit goes to traction men at Fazilka, who made it possible and
this recognition of our small city community effort would surely set trends
of many other cities in the area of urban transport and environment
protection," said Navdeep Asija, founder, ecocabs and secretary (admin)
GWAF.

Eco-cabs are basically dial-a-cycle-rickshaw similar to dial-a-cab started
in the year 2008 at Fazilka with an idea to strengthen existing unorganised
network of cycle rickshaw and its promotion as a post-modern technology for
a short distance travelling. The concept was launched for the first time in
the World at Fazilka, an Indian border town and district headquarters of
Punjab near the India-Pakistan Border by the GWAF. Later, in the year 2010,
principal secretary (Tourism) Geetika Kalha decided to launch the same
scheme in the holy city of Amritsar around the Golden Temple area.

At present, the scheme is successfully initiated in 22 cities of Punjab.
Now, at Fazilka, city is being served via nine eco-cab call centers from
where the user can dial for rickshaw at doorstep. Each traction man carries
mobile phone for direct calling facility and Its android application is
also available in the market.

The eco-cab dial-a-rickshaw project is with light weight rickshaw equipped
with luggage space, FM radio and drinking water facility.

Fazilka eco-cabs got a big boost when on April 28, last year, the Punjab
and Haryana High Court took suo-moto in one of the news item and ordered
the Government of Punjab, Haryana states and UT Chandigarh to implement it
in various cities of Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh.

Notably, the prizes are given under nine different categories and Fazilka
eco-cabs have been adjourned as the best innovative practice using cycle
rickshaw under non-motor transport category, this year.

Municipal Council (Fazilka) has constructed new eco-cabs stands for the
rickshaw pullers."Our traction men are real green warrior and project
eco-cab is nothing but a support to these eco-warriors, who pedal everyday
for the sustainability of the planet," said Dr Bhupinder, Patron, founding
member (GWAF) and retired professor from the IIT Roorkee.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111201/bathinda.htm#2