E-autos remain out of service as Rs. 30,000 subsidy per auto delayed in Kerala
Thirty of the 105 e-autos run by the Ernakulam Jilla Autorickshaw Drivers Cooperative Society have been idle for a year, with the society moving the High Court over the stalled subsidy
A significant number of electric autos that previously provided feeder trips from Kochi Metro stations continue to sit idle, gathering rust in parking lots across the city. The Kerala government had promised to provide a subsidy of ₹30,000 per e-auto, but this promise has yet to materialize, leaving the operators in a lurch. Thirty of these autos were being operated by the Ernakulam Jilla Autorickshaw Drivers Cooperative Society (EJADCS), which had set aside ₹9 lakh as "working capital" to procure and operate them from metro stations.
The delay in receiving the subsidy has created a ripple effect, affecting the society's functioning and the timely procurement of batteries for the autos. Despite multiple appeals, including a recent one to the High Court demanding the speedy transfer of the subsidy, the situation remains unresolved. The shortage of e-autos is further compounded by the difficulty in attracting drivers, who can only charge the government-fixed fare from commuters, making the venture less financially viable.
The situation has drawn criticism, with D. Dhanuraj, chairman of the Centre for Public Policy Research, suggesting that Kochi Metro should learn from Chennai Metro's successful implementation of feeder autos.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
