E-pod: Rashmi Choudhary, a probationary sub-inspector who is 6 feet 4 inches tall and rides an electric transit pod, has been checking galleries and market areas in Connaught Place for a week. The 25-year-old is one of four police officers who will get to drive the first e-pod, called “Chariot,” for the Delhi Police.
In preparation for the G20 Summit in Delhi, the police force has started using the transit pod as part of a project to make transportation more environmentally friendly.
Learned to ride the e-pod in minutes
Rashmi joined the Delhi Police two months ago. She said that the e-pod gives her a chance to “show police presence” in the area. “I like to work in the field. I like being on the ground and giving people what they need. I don’t like riding bikes, so watching on a scooter is more my style. My leaders gave me an e-pod and told me to start prowling last week. It’s easy to get to. I was surprised because I had never tried to ride an e-bike or e-scooter before, but I learned to ride the e-pod in minutes. One good thing about it is that people can see cops from afar. She stated, “I’ve stopped several bar fights and large gatherings in the area.”
The e-pod is made by a private company in Delhi called Cosmic Healers Pvt Ltd. It can run for six hours and takes three hours to charge. It can travel between 20 and 30 kilometres per hour and has a siren, an announcement system, two storage compartments, and a set of beacon lights.
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“The pod’s sirens allow us to feel secure and comfortable even at night. I’ve been doing it for a week, and every day I drive for about 6 to 8 hours. It was awkward because everyone was looking at you, but I didn’t let that stop me. I can get to all the inner lanes of the market with no trouble. We also help clean up the market area at night,” said Rashmi, who is from Churu in Rajasthan.
Sub-Inspector Lovely and head constables Sunil Kumar and Rajendra Kumar, who work at the Connaught Place police station, also use the e-pod.
This is something new and different
According to Head Constable Sunil Kumar, “We are accustomed to riding motorcycles and using vans for patrolling. This is something new and different. We do need the car because at night, especially on weekends, there are a lot of people at CP, and bikes can’t go everywhere.
But the cops said that the “Chariot” has a few flaws. Staff said that it might not be the best choice for every officer because it can’t go very fast and it can be hard to catch thieves. It doesn’t have a seat, so you have to stand to ride it.
“We are informing our seniors and the company about the pod’s suggestions and experiences,” I told the company that we might need a place in the future. Standing for six to eight hours gets harder. Because it is electric and heavy, the car moves more slowly. We sometimes lose our balance because we’re not used to it,” Rashmi said.
Police say that once they are done testing the present vehicle, they will add more e-pods to the team.
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