Ahead Of Ram Temple Opening, How Rise In E-Rickshaw Demand Is Helping Ayodhya

However, with the inevitable rise of e-rickshaws in Ayodhya, the tongas of the city seem to be on their last legs. 70-year-old Bhagwati, apparently the last tonga wala in the town, races against time to compete with the e-rickshaws amid rapid urbanization.

As Ayodhya gears up for the 'Pran Pratishtha' of the Ram Temple on January 22, 2024, the temple town is witnessing an overhaul for the big day. The narrow lanes of Ayodhya that once echoed with the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages now resonate with the quiet whirr of eco-friendly vehicles.

As one takes a walk outside the entrance of Ram Mandir, which is under construction, a swamp of e-rickshaws can be seen taking tourists around the streets of the once-sleepy town of Ayodhya. With Ayodhya seeing a huge influx of tourists as the date of inauguration approaches, many youngsters have purchased new e-rickshaws with the hope of earning more money during this period.

"I used to rent an e-rickshaw but now have bought one a week ago on a monthly EMI of Rs 4,000. My income has now doubled to Rs 800-Rs 1,000 per day, " says 31-year-old Mohammed Arif.