Kolkata: A cycle sharing scheme, the first of its kind in the country, will be introduced in New Town on January 26, as a part of the Republic Day celebration.
It may be mentioned that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard has been signed between Zoomcar and New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) at the recently concluded Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS).
A squad comprising senior officials of Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO), NKDA and students from different schools, will take part in a rally to demonstrate the scheme to create awareness among the public.
It may be recalled that in 1904, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose, who then was a teacher at Presidency College along with his wife Lady Abala Bose, used to demonstrate cycle riding in every locality to woo residents to buy cycles to go to their places of work, just to show the British that they were as capable as them in riding bicycles.
The rally will start from New Town Business Club after flag hoisting in the morning and will travel 2 km along the graded cycle path.
The cycles are fitted with GPS. Anyone can hire the cycle, go to the destination and submit the cycles at the collection point, after making necessary payment.
The scheme is likely to benefit the people visiting New Town, particularly the students who come to the education hub regularly. Dedicated cycle tracks have been constructed to facilitate the cyclists.
HIDCO has chalked out an elaborate programme to celebrate Republic day in a befitting manner.
At Nazrul Tirtha, two movies will be screened on Sister Nivedita and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, in hall number III. There will be a travelling band at Eco Park, playing the tunes of patriotic songs.
This is for the first time that such a scheme has been undertaken. The tunes of patriotic songs appeal to people across all ages.
This has been done to woo the youths who visit Eco Park. The Café Ekante restaurant will have a special menu to mark the occasion.
There will be meeting of the senior citizens at Swapno Bhor, where there will be discussions on India's freedom movement. The New Town Business Club will present Badminton, Tennis and Squash Courts to its members on Republic Day.