Amritsar Smart City Limited (ASCL) will soon begin the RAAHI (Holistic Intervention for Auto-Rickshaw Rejuvenation in Amritsar) project for which a cash subsidy of Rs 75,000 will be provided. This scheme aims to replace the old diesel auto with an e-auto to improve the city’s public transportation and reduce pollution levels.
Amritsar Smart City CEO and Municipal Commissioner Malwinder Singh Jaggi announced the subsidy under the RAAHI project here on Wednesday. He told that under the RAAHI scheme, there is a plan to replace around 12,000 obsolete diesel autos in the city with modern and eco-friendly e-autos. Each beneficiary would receive a cash subsidy of Rs 75,000 as compensation. Amritsar Smart City has been working on the RAAHI project for a long time under the CITIIS program.
The scheme is run by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union, and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). Aside from that, Amritsar Smart City Limited has partnered with the State Bank of India to offer low-interest loans to e-car owners. The loan will also be provided by the State Bank at a rate of 9.9%. He stated that Amritsar will be the first city in the country to integrate e-autos into the public transportation system on a major scale.
“Rickshaw drivers’ earnings would grow following the adoption of e-autos,” stated Malwinder Singh Jaggi, CEO of Amritsar Smart City. The present cost of driving a diesel auto has risen to more than Rs 4 per km, whereas the e-auto costs only 0.68 paise/Km. At the same time, the use of electric vehicles will reduce air and noise pollution. Amritsar Smart City has already begun to empower OEMs of electric vehicles, and the initiative will begin before Diwali.”
“Rickshaw drivers’ earnings would grow following the adoption of e-autos,” stated Malwinder Singh Jaggi, CEO of Amritsar Smart City. The present cost of driving a diesel auto has risen to more than Rs 4 per km, whereas the e-auto costs only 0.68 paise/Km. At the same time, the use of electric vehicles will reduce air and noise pollution. Amritsar Smart City has already begun to empower OEMs of electric vehicles, and the initiative will begin before Diwali.”
In addition, vehicle drivers want an increase in the subsidy. The government has increased the subsidy and will now offer it upfront, taking everything into account. According to the State Bank of India, the government had chosen other banks to participate in the plan. Canara Bank, Indian Bank, Union Bank, HDFC Bank, and Punjab Gramin Bank have all filed bids.
According to the CEO, to benefit from the RAAHI scheme, the prospective driver must be a member of the Amritsar Auto-Rickshaw Drivers Cooperative Society. And, they should have the following documents. – Aadhaar card – Voter card – Old vehicle registration certificate – Driving license – Society membership slip With these documents, the driver can make an application at a Mahindra or Piaggio dealership that has been authorized.
That’s all about the RAAHI scheme. And, the application process is not revealed yet. So, we have to wait for an official statement. Stay tuned with us for further updates. As any information comes, we will update you. The initiative also provides free skill development training to female relatives of auto-rickshaw drivers.