Ranchi: Ranchiites will soon be able to book eco-friendly e-rickshaws by tapping on an app.

City manager (transport) of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) Saurabh Kumar told The Telegraph on Tuesday that a Ranchi-based management student, Akshay Malpani, had been assigned the job.

"Like in the case of Uber and Ola, e-rickshaws will also be booked through an app. This apart, people can book an e-rickshaw from same service provider over phone and by going to canopies designated for the purpose at locations across the city. For details, you can contact Akshay, who is developing the app," Kumar said.

He added Akshay, 23, had mooted this as a start-up idea, in which the state government saw potential.

Contacted, Akshay who resides in Panchwati Garden, Bariatu, and is a second-year MBA student at Amity University, said the service was expected to roll out within a month and a half.

"People can book e-rickshaws on an app like the way cars nowadays are booked. If one is not smartphone-savvy, one can book an e-rickshaw by calling up a number or by personally going to as many as 28 canopies at different places. Payment modes will be both postpaid and prepaid if one books an e-rickshaw at the canopies. For app and phone bookings, payment mode will only be postpaid."

He added he would call the service Ecogadi.

"Initially, my fleet of 30 e-rickshaws will be associated with this system. Gradually, other e-rickshaws will also be added according to this system based on my terms and conditions," he said.

A city-based caterer, Jitendra Mishra, welcomed Akshay's idea. "Nowadays, one needs the comfort of booking a commute. Also, I am glad that there will be non-app booking options too. Many people, including the elderly, are not comfortable with apps. So I am sure that these multiple options (app, phone, canopy booking) would help people," Mishra said.

Are app autos a good idea for all Jharkhand cities? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com