Mayor Karmjit Singh Rintu started the RAAHI Project

Application starts from today for subsidy of Rs.75000/-

Amritsar, December 31 (Punjab Post Bureau) – To improve the city’s public transport and to reduce pollution level, Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu has launched “RAAHI” (Rejuvenation of Auto-Rickshaw in Amritsar through Holistic Intervention) in the presence of CEO, Amritsar Smart City Limited (ASCL) & Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mr. Sandeep Rishi. The video trailer and web portal of RAAHI Project were also launched by the Mayor. On this occasion, CEO, ASCL Sandeep Rishi informed that the RAAHI project is part of the CITIIS program being run by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, French Development Agency (AFD), European Union and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). The ASCL team had been working on that project for the last 2 years and today it has been started. He said that Mahindra and Piaggio, two e-auto manufacturers are currently empaneled under the RAAHI project and any auto driver who wants to replace his old diesel auto can apply by visiting the dealership of the empaneled companies. He said that first of all an opportunity will be given to the oldest diesel auto owners to replace their auto with e-auto. 

                  Mayor Karmjit Singh Rintu said that the RAAHI project will not only improve the air quality index of the city, but daily earnings of auto rickshaw drivers will also increase from the adoption of e-autos. As the cost of running the auto has gone up to more than Rs 4 per km, but it is around only 0.68 paise per km in the e-auto. He said that under the RAAHI project, a subsidy of Rs 75,000 would be given to each beneficiary. Apart from this, buyers of e-autos will also be able to take loans at easy rates from State Bank of India. He said that under the RAAHI project, free skill development courses have also been started for the women family members of the auto rickshaw drivers. Where courses like Cutting and Tailoring, Beauty Parlour, Computer Operator and Food and Fruit Preservation can be done. On this occasion, Pranjali Deshpande, the mentor appointed for the RAAHI project by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, said that Amritsar is the first city in the country where e-autos are being made part of the public transport system on such a large scale through this project. She said that auto-rickshaws are an important part of the public transport system and only a better public transport system motivates people to use public transport instead of their private vehicles. Pranjali Deshpande said that the environment will also be greatly benefited by the RAAHI project. Because a diesel auto (Bharat III standard) emits 0.64 grams of carbon monoxide per km. accordingly, a diesel auto in Amritsar emits 45 grams per day (in terms of distance of 70 km per day) and 165 kg carbon monoxide per year, but in e-auto it will be zero.