An experimental e-rickshaws service has been started for all the senior citizens and physically challenged pilgrims coming to take holy dip on the eve of Krishna Pushkaralu.

Krishna District Collector Babu Ahmad introduced the e-rickshaws to facilitate the movement of the elderly and physically challenged pilgrims to the bathing ghats from Pushkarnagars and satellite bus stations.  

10 e-rickshaws were introduced by the administration to serve the pilgrims from morning to e-rickshaws night at the Punnami and Pavitra Sangamam ghats.

The e-rickshaws have a seating capacity for four passengers which are being operated from the first day of the Pushkaralu. They are operated with four 12 volts batteries and work for four hours covering 120 km, before they go for recharging.

A Sankara Rao, senior assistant at the SC Corporation said “K P Rao, Sports activist from the city, found these vehicles in China and imported 10 e-rickshaws on an experimental basis. Though he wanted to start a local manufacturing unit, the District Collector had asked him to place the vehicle on a trial basis during the Krishna Pushkaralu to help the elderly and physically challenged pilgrims.”

He added “these vehicles were placed at Sangamam and Punnami ghats on a trial basis and appointed drivers with the help of the AP Scheduled Castes Finance Corporation.  The district administration wanted to distribute e-rickshaws on loan for SC unemployed youth. The vehicles were found very much useful for the senior citizens.”

The senior citizens are happy with the vehicles. Senior citizen Venkateswara Rao said “I came from Adavi Nekkalam village. I can’t walk from road to the ghat, these e-rickshaws carried me to the ghat and back.”

Also Read: Krishna Pushkaralu - Time for the holy dip

BY M. DIVYA SRI