Lalitpur Metropolitan City has introduced an e-carriage service to promote tourism. The metropolis has begun trial runs of electric rickshaws along a route covering Pulchowk, Mahapal, Mangal Bazaar, Patan Sundhara, and Buddha Bihar.
The initiative aims to provide domestic and international tourists with a convenient way to explore heritage sites, including monasteries and temples, said Sitaram Hachethu, chief of the Metropolitan City Police.
Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan spearheaded the project to expand Lalitpur's tourism beyond Patan Durbar Square and Mangal Bazaar to other attractions in the city. Hachethu highlighted that the e-carriages are small, electric, and environmentally friendly, making them ideal for navigating narrow streets.
Following the trial’s launch on Tuesday, many people have flocked to take free rides and capture photos, videos, and to make TikTok posts. The e-carriages, each with a capacity of seven passengers including the driver, will remain free during the testing phase. If the trial proves successful, the city plans to procure four more e-carriages for commercial operation.
