Pune: Maha Metro officials have said that soon, e-autos will be available at some Metro stations in the city to facilitate last-mile connectivity . "A team of the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) multi-modal section recently went to Delhi for two days and held discussions with e-rickshaw service providers, like ETO Motors Pvt Ltd, which provide services at a few Metro stations in the capital. Talks are on, and e-auto services will start for Pune Metro as well," Hemant Sonawane, director of public relations for Maha Metro, told TOI on Friday.
There are just around 170 passenger e-rickshaws registered with Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) currently; likewise, there are just 37 passenger e-rickshaws registered with Pimpri Chinchwad RTO. "Around six years ago, RTO tried to bring in e-rickshaws for short-distance travel. However, protests from auto drivers followed, and they didn't get too popular.
Therefore, there are very few takers for these rickshaws now," a Pune RTO official told TOI. While Save Pune Traffic Movement founder Harshad Abhyankar believes introducing e-autos is a good idea, he cautioned, "However, it is an open secret that last-mile connectivity is going to be a problem for all Metro systems. The state and national leadership pushing for Metro systems countrywide should learn a lesson and improve basic bus-based systems first, before spending crores of taxpayers' money on building Metros that run at 15% capacity.
" Maha Metro's Sonawane .