Now, Dabbawalas get boost of e-cycles

Mumbai’s Dabbawalas are all ready to get a boost of electricity-run cycles, or simply, e-cycles. The Dabbawalas were given five cycles by Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray and Mumbai Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar in an official function held in Wilson Gymkhana at Marine Drive on Monday.

Each cycle costs Rs 37,500 and Shiv Sena will pay Rs 25,000 for every cycle the association buys henceforth. The e-cycles are specially designed keeping the workload and tiffin services in mind.

“Once fully charged, the cycle will run for 100 kilometers without any interruption. Everyday routine of cycling takes toll on dabbawalas and they suffer from constant knee pain. This will not be a problem with the advent of ecycles,” said Suhas Talekar, spokesperson, Mumbai Dabbawala Association (MDA).

These five e-cycles will function and the association is slated to receive 20 more e-cycles soon after which it can be used in the suburbs as well.

Raghunath Medge, president of Mumbai Dabbawala Association, said the cycles would be of help to senior members who had to cycle manually. “With the help of these cycles, one can save on some of their energy which they used to otherwise use in cycling, especially if they are senior citizens,” Medge said.

Aditya Thackeray, while speaking at the event, said, “One community which is constantly on their toes and without whom the city cannot function is Dabbawalas. And they have been cycling manually for years. It is time they cycle only as an exercise and not as labour work.”