Puducherry: Senior citizens and differently abled persons can now enjoy the famous Gandhi beach promenade here with a free ride in e-rickshaw, battery powered three-wheeler, managed by Puducherry Tourism Development Corporation(PTDC).
The service was launched by welfare minister M. Kandasamy in the presence of MLAs K. Lakshminarayanan and M.N.R. Balan and chief secretary Manoj Parida on Monday.
The vehicle is sponsored by Hi-Tech Civil Engineering Pvt Ltd, a contractor of National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) implementing the beach restoration programme, under corporate social responsibility (CSR). Two more e-rickshaws will be introduced soon by another firm, K. Lakshminarayanan told Deccan Chronicle.
Two drivers have been appointed to provide free rides for senior citizens, differently-abled persons and pregnant woman visiting the beach.
In his budget 2015-16 speech, former chief minister N. Rangasamy had announced the government's decision to issue permit for battery operated rickshaws to ply within boulevard area in Puducherry. As part of government’s policy to promote environment friendly vehicles, the budget had also reduced the value added tax) on vehicles from 14.5 per cent to 2 per cent.
