Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Rampur City Akash Saxena has replaced the conventional vehicles in his fleet with e-rickshaws, which are being charged through a solar power set-up installed at his residence. The move marks a shift from his regular convoy of petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles, including Toyota Fortuner and Innova Crysta, and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for sustainable practices and chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s push for environmentally friendly initiatives.Videos of the MLA travelling in a convoy of e-rickshaws along with armed personnel deployed under his Y-category security cover were widely circulated on social media. On Friday, Saxena was seen travelling to the Rampur district court in connection with a case involving former cabinet minister and senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan. Saxena is the petitioner in multiple cases against Khan and his family members.The MLA has purchased four e-rickshaws that will now be used for his official movements across the city. From attending public programmes to inspecting development works, Saxena’s convoy will primarily consist of e-rickshaws. CRPF and police personnel assigned to his security will also use the same mode of transport, a police official said.Speaking about the initiative, Saxena said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath are visionary leaders whose policies aim to ensure economic progress as well as long-term sustainability. Such measures will strengthen the country economically and help it deal with future economic challenges.”The MLA said he has installed a 20-kilowatt solar power plant at his residence to charge the e-rickshaws. He added that he plans to rely only on electric vehicles in the future to reduce fuel-related dependence and contribute to environmental conservation.Talking to HT, Saxena said, “The e-rickshaws are driven by my staff and supporters. Besides being an eco-friendly mode of transport, I find them better than the cars I used earlier. They occupy less road space and allow us to meet and greet people more easily while travelling.”Meanwhile, District Cooperative Bank chairman Mohan Lal Saini also adopted the eco-friendly approach by travelling to his office in an e-rickshaw instead of his usual SUV.