Year on, e-rickshaws yet to gain momentum on PU campus

Ishrat S Banwait

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May  23

A year after UT Advisor Parimal Rai launched e- rickshaw service in Panjab University, the rickshaws have failed to make profits. At the time of launch, the PU authorities had said that auto rickshaws will not be allowed on the campus. However, there has been no check on them. Resultantly, the business of e- rickshaws was affected.

The e- rickshaws are not allowed to charge more than Rs 10 from a person and drivers inform that they were not making enough money. One such driver Amit informs, “Not many people opt for our service as people coming from outside come in auto rickshaws while many have their own vehicles.” He adds that the number of e- rickshaws has reduced to less than half as compared to the initial number due to the same reason. A major reason for the failure of e- rickshaws is the lack of implementation of the four-wheeler ban in academic areas. The students had voted for the ban in the 2016 elections but other than a barricade between the gate number one and the road leading to Gandhi Bhawan, there are no restrictions. There are alternate routes to the same place which does not cause any problems.

At the launch of the e-rickshaws on May 18, 2016, the university authorities had said that they would introduce parking points near gates for outsiders and they would have to opt for e- rickshaws to travel on the campus. However, the failure to implement this has adversely affected the business. When contacted, Deputy Registrar (Estate) Muneeshwar Joshi refused to talk saying that he was not authorised to and that queries could be put up to the Director, Public Relations.