From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Sep 27: Bicycles, the poor man’s mode of transport as also the preferred option for the fitness conscious youngsters and adults, will soon get pride of place in Karnataka’s capital of Bengaluru with the State Cabinet approving a Public Bicycle Sharing System and also establishment of bicycles clusters or bicycle docking stations.
Naturally, bicycles could soon emerge as the preferred option for short commute for Bengalureans with the State Cabinet’s latest decision taken at its meeting on Wednesday.
About 6000 bicycles are proposed to be made available to the citizens on rental system under the proposed system.
The project is estimated to cost Rs 80 crore covering the Central Business District and some of the residential layouts.
The bicycle clusters are proposed to be set up on MG Road and surrounding areas near Vidhana Soudha, in Indira Nagar, HBR layout, HRBR layout, Koramangala, Banasavadi and other places.
The Bicycle Clusters would also be opened near Metro Stations, Bus Terminals and Commercial hubs to offer bicycles as healthy and clean means of transport for short commute and last mile connectivity.
Karnataka’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister TB Jayachandra, who briefed reporters on the latest move as approved by the State Cabient, said, the proposal is a budget promise of the Chief Minister and the success of a similar project in Mysuru has inspired the government to take it up a big way in Bengaluru.
According to the project report prepared by Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) the bicycles would be GPS-equipped.
The Docking stations would be provided at about 500mts from one another.
Swipe cards would be introduced under the system and bicycles can be hired using the availed swipe cards.
One just needs to use the swipe card which works on Radio Frequency Identification Technology to unlock the cycle and take it around.
The bicycles need not be brought back to the same place and can be parked at any other docking station available near one’s destination.
Instead of purchasing 3000 new buses to enhance the fleet of Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), it has now been decided to purchase 1500 new buses and get 1500 buses on lease from private transport operators, the minister said.
The decision to procure 1500 buses on lease has come as a surprise as the State Government had cancelled a similar system which was prevalent earlier following allegations huge financial irregularities benefiting the private operators who lease out their buses.
Leasing of 1500 buses would cost Rs 77crore annually for BMTC and the cabinet has agreed to provide government guarantee for raising Rs 80 crore loan for purchase of new buses.
Jayachandra said taking buses on lease would enable the State Government to procure the buses without immediate financial burden.