Quadricycle is Mumbai’s four-wheeler auto-rickshaw

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, July 18

The Maharashtra government has allowed quadricycles to ply as autorickshaws and the first such vehicle hit the roads earlier this week, according to pictures released by the Mumbai Suburban Regional Transport Office (RTO).

Several more quadricycles that have been registered by the RTO will ply in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs initially before hitting the city’s western suburbs. Since auto-rickshaws are not permitted in downtown
Mumbai quadricycles would not be allowed to ply here, according to officials.

The Maharashtra government’s transport ministry is however considering listing quadricycles as a special category.

Though a four-wheeled quadricycle has the engine of an auto-rickshaw, it has four seats including one for the driver and has doors to protect the riders from the elements.

The quadricycles, which will ply in Mumbai will run on CNG, according to transport officials. Officials say there is no plan to replace the city’s auto-rickshaw fleet with the quadricycle.