Maharashtra transport authority allows e-rickshaw trials at Matheran hill station
India Today
Maharashtra transport authority has permitted e-rickshaw trials on an experimental basis at Matheran hill station located in Raigad district.
The transport authority has granted permission on an experimental basis for conducting trials of e-rickshaws at Matheran hill station located in Maharashtra's Raigad district, a Regional Transport Office (RTO) officer said on Tuesday.
He said the Supreme Court had earlier this year given a directive to conduct trials of e-rickshaws at the hill station to check their feasibility. "The one-time permission was granted by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) for conducting trials on an experimental basis as a special case.
Badge-holder auto drivers will run these seven e-rickshaws," he said. Presently, no other motorised vehicles, except ambulances, are allowed to ply at Matheran, located 100 km from Mumbai, beyond the Dasturi point, the entry point on the hill station's plateau.
Beyond Dasturi Point, tourists and locals have to rely on horses or dolis, apart from the famous narrow-gauge mini-toy train between Neral and Matheran stations.
Because of the extensive damage to the train tracks at several locations in the monsoon of 2019, the mini-train service is available only between Aman Lodge (Near Dasturi) and Matheran.
