Jamshedpur: Steel city residents can hope to avail of an eco-friendly public transport option from mid-April.

Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) plans to distribute as many as 70 battery-run rickshaws, also called e-rickshaws, among beneficiaries under the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM).

The green fleet is already popular in Ranchi and Dhanbad, but hasn't seen large-scale use here until now.

"Currently, applications of beneficiaries are being scrutinised. We are also in the process of charting out routes for which permits will be issued. We hope to complete the process and distribute the e-rickshaws by mid-April," said JNAC special officer Sanjay Kumar Pandey.

Sources in the urban local body said the e-rickshaws, which may be named e-raths, were priced at nearly Rs 90,000 and beneficiaries would have to submit proofs of residence and unemployment, a three-wheeler driving licence (manual or auto) and documents showing minimum three year's of experience in driving an auto or manual rickshaw certified by a drivers' outfit.

"Only applicants who fulfil all the criteria will be considered eligible for the e-rath dole. The scheme is aimed at enhancing living standards of jobless youths. After meeting all the criteria, an applicant can get the vehicle by paying only 25 per cent of the total price. The remaining 75 per cent of the cost will be borne by the state government," said Salil Tirkey, the in-charge of the e-rickshaw project at JNAC.

East Singhbhum district transport officer (DTO) Ravi Ranjan Vikram said the department would gradually phase out smoke-belching diesel autos once a sizeable number of e-rickshaws start plying. "We are keeping tabs on the battery-operated e-rickshaws. Once the fleet takes over important routes, we will start a crackdown against diesel auto-rickshaws, most of which are plying in the city without valid permits," he said.

At the moment, auto-rickshaws form the backbone of public transport in the steel hub and crackdowns are few and far between keeping in mind commuter discomfort.

According to statistics made available by the DTO's office, there are over 15,000 diesel-run auto-rickshaws, out of which over 50 per cent do not have valid permits.

"In fact, no permits have been issued (to diesel autos) for city run in the last five years. All new permits are for rural roads (outside city limits). But, autos keep violating the rule," said a senior clerk at the DTO's office.