Seven-day e-auto mela in Delhi to give green drive a big push

NEW DELHI: In a green push, transport minister Kailash Gahlot inaugurated on Monday a seven-day e-auto mela at Institute of Driving, Training and Research (IDTR) in Sarai Kale Khan that will continue till October 31 from 9am to 4pm every day. The fair is also being held at IDTR-Loni.
With Delhi government reserving 33% permits for e-autos for women applicants, the fair saw a good turnout of women drivers on the first day.It is expected that e-autos will start running on Delhi’s roads in the next two months.
Prospective e-auto drivers will be able to see and drive all available models of e-autos at the fair, apart from exploring loan terms. “Switching to non-polluting electric vehicles has been of the highest priority to the government and, to ensure this huge-butcrucial shift, we have simplified the process of application and other formalities as much as possible,” Gahlot said.
He said that with more than 1,400 autos reserved for women, this would be one of the biggest steps any city had taken to increase the presence of women in public transport and overall women’s safety.
The department has invited online applications for the registration of 4,261 e-autos, of which 33% are reserved for women, and has received 6,352 applications till October 25.
While the e-autos will be blue in colour in line with the electric buses soon to be inducted into the DTC fleet, those registered by women would be pink, it said.
“I appeal to not just auto drivers but all holders of LMV in Delhi to come to visit and learn for yourself various benefits of getting an e-auto, and also drive and see for yourself,” said Gahlot.
Delhi government has exempted registration fees and road tax, and given purchase incentive of Rs 30,000 and loan subsidies per e-auto.