The battery-operated rickshaws which started with much fanfair for the passengers a couple of days ago has ironically failed to convince the passengers to enjoy a smooth ride. The rickshaw in search of its passengers is generally found standing in-front of the Railway station’s main gate.
Driver of the battery operated rickshaw Anjan Kumar, who is very disappointed with the approach of the passengers at Railway station said, “Despite providing the service free of cost till date no one has come forward to avail its services. I am trying my level the best to convenience the passengers but there is a hesitation among the people.”
The rickshaw was inaugurated by Ranchi Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Gajanan Mallya on December 10. The basic idea behind the launch of this service was to help the passengers’ specially senior citizens in easy commuting within the platform. The rickshaw has the capacity to travel around 80 km after an eight hour charge. Four passengers at a time can enjoy a ride in the rickshaw.
As a pilot project, the station administration has planned to the run the rickshaw in only platform number one. According to passengers this is the major reason behind failure of the service. A passenger at Ranchi Railway Station Anamika Sen Gupta said, “Passengers usually find difficulty in commuting from one platform to another but the service is only for one platform that to first one. So I didn’t prefer availing this service. If the Railways authority makes it for all platforms then a positive reaction can be seen in this direction.”
Echoing him another passenger said, “The rickshaw seems exciting but commuting from one to other only in first platform makes no sense. The need of the hour is that its boundaries such be extended.”