– Sakal Times Correspondent
Friday, 28 June 2013 – 10:57 AM IST
PIMPRI: A high-tech battery-operated chariot developed by the Dighi-based Research and Development Establishment (R&DE) was handed over to the Alandi temple Trust on Thursday. The chariot, built at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore, will be used for the annual palkhi procession from Alandi to Pandharpur.
Director of R&DE, S Guruprasad handed over the chariot to the temple. Those present on the occasion included Alandi Temple Trust chief trustee Sudhir Pimpale, palkhi procession chief Dr Prashant Suru and Alandi Municipal Council president Varsha Kodre. The Trust honoured a group of R&DE employees with mementos for their role in developing the chariot.
The high-tech chariot was developed after a bullock was killed during the palkhi to Pandharpur last year.
The battery-operated chariot will run for about 12 hours and the battery can be fully charged within six hours. The chariot has been made out of carbon fibre which has reduced its weight considerably.
The total weight of this modern chariot is 1,900 kg as against the older chariot which weighed about 3,000 kg.
Which fund use by Director of R&DE, S Guruprasad for this project own pocket money or public fund ???