In the first – ever massive initiative in India to provide wheelchairs in auto rickshaws for physically disabled or mobility – challenged people for ease in travel, Ezy Mov, India’s leading Accessible Transport operator, has partnered with a New Delhi – based Goenka Electrical Motors Private Limited (GEM) to manufacture 5,000 accessible wheelchair friendly e-rickshaws over the next two years.
Driven by its mission to realise the future of Accessible Transportation in India for disabled, handicapped or mobility – challenged people, Ezy Mov has planned to bring accessible transport even in the auto rickshaw segment and at the doorsteps of such needy passengers.
The partnership pact was signed in Delhi by Romeo Ravva, Co -Founder and Chief Product Officer of Ezy Mov and Zafar Iqbal, CEO of Goenka Electric.
Goenka Electric is one of the leading electric rickshaw manufacturers in the country with a wide variety of high quality E – Rickshaws and Electric Vehicles. Ezy Mov is India’s leading and fastest growing accessible transport provider with its fleet of on-call wheelchair taxis already plying in India – Mumbai
This exclusive contract manufacturing arrangement will help Ezy Mov to take its wheelchair accessible service operations to a fleet size of five thousand vehicles in india in the next two years. Ezy Mov will invest close to Rs 50 crore on this venture alone.
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“For over 100 million Indians with disabilities, the need for (SARA) Safe, Accessible, Reliable and Affordable transportation has become all the more critical now. Our partnership with Goenka Electric will mark a new beginning in accessible transportation to the needy people who did not have such a tailored option of wheelchair – fitted auto rickshaws helping them take to their desired destinations. After our successful services in the wheelchair taxi segment, our entry into E – auto rickshaws will revolutionise accessible transportation across the country and make it safer and affordable,” said Romeo Ravva , Chief Product Officer of Ezy Mov.
Besides providing ease in access to disabled, handicapped or mobility challenged people due to health or age reasons, the two Companies are willing to provide an environment – friendly transportation option to the passengers with a fleet of E- Rickshaws. “With India’s first accessible transport provider Ezy Mov, we will be able to meet the needs of millions of disabled and mobility challenged passengers get safe, quick and clean transport options through E-Rickshaws. We promote the cause of clean energy for creating a lasting and harmonious environment,” said Zafar Iqbal, CEO of Goenka Electric.
Recently, Ezy Mov commenced it’s accessible E-Rickshaw services in Mumbai and with this agreement, it will further expand its network of E-Rickshaws in cities like New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bangalore & Kolkata in the near future. Out of 5,000 E-Rickshaws planned under this agreement, in the first phase, about 500 E-Rickshaws will become operational in the next six months in Mumbai.
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the cost of excluding the Persons with Disabilities (PWD’s) and Senior Citizens by not providing them accessible transportation can be as high at 7 percent of India’s GDP.
Given India’s GDP forecast for the year 2021-22, touching approximately $2.8 trillion, the accessible transportation is emerging as a big opportunity of nearly $ 232 billion.
