Chief Minister e-rickshaw Scheme in Urban Areas

The scheme aims to keep urban environment pollution-free

Bhopal, To enhance the income of auto-rickshaw drivers and promote a pollution-free city, the Urban Development and Housing Department has decided to implement Chief Minister e-Rickshaw Scheme this year. In the first phase, 3,500 beneficiaries will receive benefits under the scheme. Beneficiaries will be provided interest subsidies on their loan amounts, supported by both the central and state governments. The scheme will be implemented in urban local bodies until the year 2027-28. Urban Development and Housing Minister Shri Kailash Vijayvargiya stated that this initiative aligns with the state government’s commitment, as outlined in the Sankalp Patra 2023, to support the welfare of auto and taxi drivers.

Scheme Details

Under this scheme, beneficiaries will be provided with a new e-rickshaw for purchase, and old diesel and petrol rickshaws will be retrofitted (re-equipped) and converted into e-rickshaw s. Selected beneficiaries will be provided with an interest-free personal loan of up to Rs 4 lakh under the Deendayal Jan-Ajeevika Mission – Urban component. Additionally, the beneficiaries will receive an 8% interest subsidy on the loan amount through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) from the central government. The state government will bear the 5% interest subsidy on the loan taken under the Chief Minister E-rickshaw Scheme. The loan will be provided to the beneficiaries without collateral security.

Under the Chief Minister e-rickshaw Scheme, special benefits will be provided to urban poor women, strengthening the government’s mission of women’s empowerment. The Urban Development and Housing Department has set conditions for selecting beneficiaries. According to these conditions, the beneficiary must reside in an urban area. The scheme will benefit individuals aged 18 to 55 years, who are already operating auto-rickshaws. The selected beneficiaries must also have a motor vehicle license. The implementation of the scheme will be carried out by urban bodies through the District Urban Development Agency. Application forms will be available to beneficiaries free of cost.

Task Force Committee

A Task Force Committee will be formed to resolve the applications received in the district. The Project Officer of the Urban Development Agency will be the Chairman of the Committee. Other members will include bank representatives and scheme officials. The banks must resolve the cases within 30 days. The loan distribution must be completed within the next 15 days. Banks will not ask applicants for any collateral security. Necessary budget provisions are being made for the implementation of the scheme.