Delhi chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit launched solar-electric rickshaw in the capital on Thursday. These auto rickshaws would use the renewable sources of energy and help to reduced pollution in the city.

These Solar-powered cycle rickshaws are designed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and launched at a function organized on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti at Yudhbir Singh Park near the Chandni Chowk Metro Station. Union Minister of Science and Technology and the Earth Sciences Kapil Sibal and CSIR director general Samir K. Brahmachari were also present in the function.

Eco-friendly solar-electric rickshaw can seat two passengers besides the driver. Its speed limit is fixed at 15 km an hour. The prototypes rickshaws was designed at Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) lab at Durgapur in eight months. CSIR is planning to tie up with some corporate houses to promote its use in the country. Mark-II and Mark-III version of auto rickshaws would be ready before the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

Mr. Kapil Sibal also said that the government would provide environment friendly houses to the poor families. These houses would be water-proof and fire resistant and build with the help of eco friendly composite material.