It might appear odd at first that we are promoting locally made motorized three-wheelers but if you have ever traveled in rural Bangladesh in the last 10 years you would understand what we are trying to get at. In Bangladesh there are literally tens of thousands of these locally made 3-wheel contraptions powered by inexpensive Chinese diesel engines of all sizes and shapes and horse power providing invaluable transport services to millions of rural Bangladeshis. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this rural transport revolution is that it has till now escaped international and even national notice To read more about this fascinating process click on IMTs of Bangladesh to download the pdf report

The goal of our IMT work in Nepal has been to replicate this success in Bangladesh. It has been painfully slow. Six years ago we fabricated our first 3.5 HP motorized rickshaw and sold it (with a slight subsidy) to a bread delivery man, Mr. ? in Bhairahawa bazaar. Previously he had delivered his bread 20 kilometers along the Lumbini road. Once he began using the motorized rickshaw he was able to cover over 70 kilometers per day. It had a carrying capacity of 200 kilograms.

Our second motorized rickshaw was captured by the Maoists shortly after it was deployed north west of Bhairahawa for people transport. We eventually got it back a couple years later completely rusted and in pieces.

Our most recent attempt has been the fabrication of a 5.5 HP rural tempo or auto rickshaw, capable of carrying up to 500 kilograms. Trials of this machine should begin just after monsoon in October 2007.