my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 15 Oct: In a major initiative aimed at managing traffic congestion and improving parking facilities in the city, the Dehradun district administration today launched two new electric vehicles under the Sakhi Shuttle Service. The vehicles were flagged off at Parade Ground by MLA Khajan Das in the presence of Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal, District Magistrate Savin Bansal, and Senior Superintendent of Police Ajai Singh.
The new EVs will provide free shuttle service within a five-kilometre radius from the Parade Ground Automated Parking, enabling citizens to park their vehicles safely and travel to nearby busy locations without hassle. Five designated stops will soon be established across the city. Both the automated parking and shuttle services will be operated by women self-help groups (SHGs), with the Krishna Self-Help Group currently managing the Parade Ground parking facility, generating a daily income of Rs 29,120, which is expected to rise further with the launch of the Sakhi Shuttle Service.
The District Administration also launched the ‘Free Sakhi Cab Facility’ under the automated parking project, allocating two new Tata Punch EVs to the District Rural Development Agency. Two drivers have been provided for the operation. The free cab service will ferry vehicle owners from the parking lots to congested locations, further reducing traffic on the city streets.
On this occasion, MLA Khajan Das praised the district administration for its innovative efforts and lauded the automated parking and shuttle project for facilitating smooth traffic movement. He also mentioned that eight more Sakhi vehicles will soon be deployed to enhance the service.
The DM shared that the automated parking facilities, constructed under the guidance of the Chief Minister, are one-third the cost of conventional parking lots and have been completed in a short span of time. He emphasised that the initiative will significantly reduce congestion and encouraged citizens to use the facilities. The first phase includes two operational EVs, while six more will be added soon under a public-private partnership model. Five stops have been identified along the Parade Ground–Paltan Bazaar and Rajpur Road routes, including Parade Ground, Gandhi Park, Paltan Bazaar, Ghantaghar, Congress Bhavan, Crossroads Mall, Hotel Boulevard, Astley Hall Globe Chowk, and the Secretariat area.
To further support the traffic management, three new automated parking facilities have been constructed at Parade Ground (for 111 vehicles), at Tibetan Market (for 132 vehicles) and at Coronation Hospital (for18 vehicles), totalling 261 spaces, which will soon be formally inaugurated by the Chief Minister. The initiative ensures safe and affordable parking for citizens, while providing livelihood opportunities and economic empowerment to women of the self-help groups. The Krishna Self-Help Group, operating the Parade Ground facility, has seen a steady rise in income and is contributing to the financial independence of its members.
Among those present on this occasion included CDO Abhinav Shah, Police Superintendent, City, Pramod Kumar, Municipal Magistrate Pratyush Singh, Traffic Superintendent Lokjeet Singh, Director, District Rural Development Agency, Vikram Singh, Divisional Transport Officer Deepak Saini, District Development Officer Sunil Kumar, Anita Chamola and members of the Krishna Women Self-Help Group.
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