Going green! Kerala plans E-rickshaws to check pollution
- Amendment to KMV Act on the anvil to facilitate CNG/LNG vehicles.
- KSRTC will purchase 1,000 CNG buses.
- E-rickshaw registration to begin in November.
Kerala government is seriously considering the use of electric Electric autorickshaws to check air pollution caused by vehicles. It has also started measures to use CNG and LNG in vehicles. As a pilot project, the registration of E-rickshaws will begin on 1 November in six major towns in the state.
In a response to a question regarding air pollution caused by vehicles, Transport Minister AK Saseendran said in Kerala Assembly on Friday that the government had plans to bring in electric autorickshaws to reduce air pollution. As the first step to implementing in eco-friendly public transport system, the government will start the registration of E-rickshaws in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur.
Use of CNG and LNG will have to overcome some legal hurdles too, as the Rule 252 of the Kerala Motor Vehicles Act (KMV) do not allow fuels other than diesel and petrol. "An amendment to the KMV Act is necessary to enable CNG and LNG in public vehicles. A law amendment will be needed to allow using these green fuels in private vehicles too. The govt. is weighing a change in the law," minister informed the House on Friday.
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The government has imposed green tax on private vehicles of above 15 years and public vehicles of 10 years and above to discourage the use of polluting vehicles.
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is planning to purchase 1,000 CNG buses and this year's budget has earmarked Rs.300 crores for the project. The first batch of 100 CNG buses will start plying in Kochi, once the upcoming CNG terminal gets operational. The KSRTC buses from Thottilpalam Depot are running on bio-fuel from September this year, the minister informed the House.