Bengaluru: Environment-friendly battery operated bicycles are the latest addition to the bikes you can rent at the city’s Metro Rail stations. The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) has tied up with a Mysore manufacturing company, Green Wheel Ride, to provide the battery operated bicycles to commuters for their last mile connectivity.
The facility will be first launched at the Mysore Road, Vijayanagar, Sandal Soap factory and Yeshwanthpur Metro Rail stations, where around 600 sq. ft of parking space will be provided for these cycles, according to Mr U.A.Vasanth Rao, CPRO of BMRCL. If the experiment is successful and receives a good response from the public, it will be extended to other stations as well, he reveals.
“Around 30 to 40 of these environment-friendly cycles will be available at each station. We have given the company permission to go ahead with the project, which will take off in the next six to eight weeks,” Mr Vasanth Rao said.
The BMRCL also plans to tie- up with rental hubs in a three to four kilometer radius of the Metro stations for the convenience of alighting passengers.
“Commuters can pick up the cycles from the station and drop them off at any of these hubs. We are still deciding on the rental charges, but it will be one of the cheapest transports available,” said Mr Mahesha, promoter of Green Wheel Ride.
“The cycles will run on batteries and electric motors. The idea is to provide a clean, green and economical commuting option, which will also solve the problem of congestion,” he explained
The Green Line, which became fully operational recently, has been drawing flak for its lack of last mile connectivity as the Metro passes through only the main commercial areas on the route, while most commuters have homes or offices a good five to six kilometers away. Once the battery operated cycles become available, a considerable chunk of cycling enthusiasts and young office-goers are expected to opt for them, resolving this last mile connectivity problem.
