The Murugappa Group’s EV brand, Montra Electric, has partnered with the Rejuvenation of Auto-rickshaws in Amritsar via Holistic Intervention (RAAHI) initiative, marking a major advancement in the field of sustainable mobility. This project is a component of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development’s City Investments to Innovate, Integrate, and Sustain (CITIIS) programme.
Introduced in 2019, the RAAHI programme seeks to replace more than 12,000 outdated diesel three-wheelers by carefully choosing recipients, who are then evaluated by the Amritsar Smart City Ltd team. Each beneficiary of this programme is eligible for a subsidy of Rs 1.40 lakh. By choosing the Montra Electric Super Auto, recipients may take advantage of FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) reductions in addition to receiving the entire subsidy straight into their accounts. In particular, female drivers are entitled for a 90% discount on pink electric vehicles, and their families can enrol in NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation) skill-development courses.
The RAAHI project focuses on reducing city air pollution levels and is an essential component of CITIIIS, comprising multiple interconnected elements such as electric vehicle charging stations, bolstering the 3-wheeler industry, creating livelihood opportunities, enhancing pedestrian safety, improving first and last-mile connectivity, and promoting cleaner air quality.
To be eligible for RAAHI program benefits, potential drivers must be members of the Amritsar Auto-Rickshaw Drivers Cooperative Society, possessing either an Aadhaar card or a voter card, along with the registration certificate for their previous auto, a valid driving license, and a membership slip from the society.