[sustran] Battery Operated Rickshaw in Uttar Pradesh (India) - a Good or Bad Move by the Government

[Asija, Navdeep]

Thinking about 2.5 Lakh rickshaw families is a good move by the Uttar
Pradesh Government but giving them free battery operated rickshaw may not
be a long term good solution. 1500 crores would be like a shear wastage
after one year, because of its high maintenance cost and further
replacement of battery which will cost further 10,000/- every year (It is
equal to the cost of one new peddle cycle rickshaw). Surely they will be
under huge debt, as their operation and maintenance cost is going to go
high.

For sure after a year, people are not going to talk about Rickshaw
revolution but rickshaw scam. Middle man is going to make huge money out of
it. This pro poor move by the government is actually Anti Poor. Giving free
is something which is not financially sustainable model. Villages or slums
where these rickshaw men resides have no electricity point or electricity
comes for 4 hours per day, now when they will charge their rickshaw, buying
another set of battery means adding 10,000 more to capital cost. Anyways, i
appreciate government as they thought about rickshaw men, but this scheme
needs further holistic approach to brought out overall sustainable model.


http://www.financialexpress.com/news/free-rickshaw-scheme-to-cost-govt-r1500-cr/1026917/0#

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Free rickshaw scheme to cost govt R1500 cr

Lucknow: The Akhilesh Yadav government’s scheme of providing solar or
battery-operated rickshaws to about 2.5 lakh registered rickshaw-pullers in
the state will cost at least Rs 1,500 crore to the state exchequer.
In response to the state government’s invitation, 21 companies have shown
interest in supplying rickshaws. Sources said that these companies have
quoted the price of their rickshaws between Rs 60,000 and Rs 1.2 lakh per
unit.
“These companies are involved in manufacturing and supply of solar or
battery-operated rickshaws. At the minimum price of rickshaw mentioned in
the offer, the purchase of 2.5 lakh rickshaws will cost Rs 1,500 crore,”
said an official. The state government, however, made a provision of Rs 100
crore in the current year’s budget. The ruling Samajwadi Party, in its
election manifesto, had promised to give battery or solar-powered rickshaws
free of cost to each rickshaw-puller in the state. After coming to power,
the government set a rider that only rickshaw-pullers registered with
municipal bodies before March 31, 2012, will be entitled to the benefit.
The State Urban Development Agency (SUDA) of the Urban Development
Department is the nodal agency for implementation of the scheme. SUDA
director Shiv Shankar Singh said, “Offers had been invited from the
companies to submit Expression of Interest in providing rickshaws with
certain specifications. Indication of approximate cost of each vehicle had
also been sought.”
Singh added, “Financial bids will be invited separately to purchase the
rickshaws after the sample rickshaws are cleared by our technical experts.”
An official said the price of rickshaws was likely to be remain unchanged
in the financial bids.
The government has asked these companies to provide at least two rickshaws
for trial, which will be done by registered rickshaw-pullers. Singh said
that the date and place of trials will be announced soon.
As per the technical specifications, the rickshaws should have a seating
capacity for two persons and there should be no manual pedal. Firms have
been asked to give details of maintenance, replacement of parts, servicing
and charging of batteries.
The government has formed a committee to supervise the purchase of
rickshaws and their distribution. The committee, which has 10 members, is
headed by Chief Secretary Jawed Usmani. It includes Industrial Development
Commissioner Anil Kumar Gupta as vice-chairman. Principal Secretary of
Urban Development as secretary and principal secretaries of Finance, Social
Welfare, Planning, Environment, Housing, Tourism and Non-Conventional
Energy as members.
The Mayawati government had also distributed around 100 solar-powered,
battery-operated rickshaws in Lucknow. “These rickshaws were not
successful. Rickshaw-pullers have complained that they face various
technical problems. We are more careful this time,” said an official.