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Bengal

NKDA to set up cycle docking stations at 20 spots in New Town

Kolkata: New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) has identified 20 spots to set up cycle docking stations in New Town.

These will be constructed by NKDA once an operator is identified through a transparent tender system. The operator will bring in 250 'Vehicle Units', along with internal docking equipment to be kept inside the docking station.

Each vehicle unit consists of two 2-wheelers, namely a bicycle and an e-bicycle, i.e. either a pedal-battery model or a battery-only model. Both will have the highest speed set below 20 kmph. Tender has been floated and September 26 is the last date of application.

The applicant desiring the minimum amount of viability grant fund from NKDA will win the tender. There are also service level agreements to be met.

The earlier dockless app-based bicycle sharing system run by Pedl in New Town was quite popular, but bulk dumping of bicycles on pavements was creating walkway obstructions. However, the company could not sustain the losses incurred and folded up.

Now, NKDA has tweaked the conditions and have asked for a minimum amount of payment per bicycle to be paid by NKDA, provided that these bicycles are fully functional.

The cycle sharing scheme introduced by NKDA had earned great success. People of the city, particularly the youths, hired the cycles and took them to the places they wished to visit and afterwards deposited the cycles. The scheme is the only of its kind in the country. In New Town, graded path has been constructed only for cycles.

Cycles are becoming increasing popular throughout the world for their eco-friendliness. In Belgium, a separate highway has

been constructed only to accommodate cycles. In Hyderabad and Bengaluru, senior officials of IT firms cycle to their offices to keep themselves fit and to conserve energy.

It may be recalled that in the early 20th century, Jagadish Chandra Bose and his wife Abala used to demonstrate cycling in different localities to inspire the Indians to buy bicycles to help them go to work, at a time when Englishmen were the only ones to use bicycles as a means of transport.

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