Viewers take a look at the newly-designed Dipbahan, a jute composite-based rickshaw. Picture by UB Photos

Sept. 21: The ubiquitous rickshaws encountered on the city roads have got a new makeover ? with jute composite.

The improved version of the Dipbahan rickshaw, which made a successful debut in the city last year after being designed by the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, is all set to hit the city roads.

The latest model is a joint effort of the IIT and the Indian Jute Industries’ Research Association, North Eastern Regional Centre, Guwahati.

It was today unveiled along with Dipbahan Pariskar, a garbage disposal tricycle, and Dipbahan Ankur, a van for schoolchildren.

Anil Kumar Sharma, director of the research association, said the joint effort had been made to develop a jute composite-based rickshaw to provide better efficiency at lower energy. The chair seat, backrest, footrest, mudguard, hood, side panels and back cover of the rickshaw are made of jute composite which would reduce the weight of the vehicle by 20 per cent.

Highlighting the other benefits of using jute, Sharma said it is cheaper and its thermal insulating property would provide greater comfort to users, especially during summer.

An official of the department of design, IITG, said their search for an alternative low-cost material with better functional properties for rickshaws had ended in jute. The fabric is being promoted by the ministry of textiles for being eco-friendly, for its low cost and low thermal conductivity to generate employment in various areas.

The designers claimed that the new Dipbahan model would protect users from collision-type accidents as an enclosure would protect them from being hit directly.

“Hopefully, schoolchildren would be more protected after Dipbahan Ankur is launched,” a member of the designing team of IITG said. The Dipbahan Pariskar is also expected to address the garbage problem of the city in a cleaner and safer way.

The Dipbahans will also take quick turns and less space, meeting the modern transportation needs.

The designers, however, rued that designing a rickshaw was much easier than changing society’s attitude towards it as a poor man’s transport.

The institute is planning to conduct a campaign to popularise the improved models of rickshaws as it has the capacity to generate largescale employment.

The Dipbahans will be marketed by the Guwahati-based firm, Tim Steel.