HIDCO asks for bike taxi permission in Sector V

Taking a cue from the success of bike taxis, Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) has requested the state Transport department to allow them to ply bike taxis in Sector V, the state's most important IT hub off Salt Lake.

On Thursday, a meeting was held between the two bike taxi operators — K Bike Taxi and One Man Taxi — to review the pros and cons faced by the operators. It was presided over by the chairman of HIDCO Debashis Sen.

K Bike taxi has so far deployed 21 taxis out of a total of 50 two-wheelers which they will introduce in phases. Meanwhile, One Man Taxi has deployed 22 two-wheelers. So far, 1,400 people have availed bike taxis. During the discussion, it came up that availability of women drivers was a problem and it is expected that the problem will be overcome soon.

Suvendu Adhikari, state Transport minister, had for the first time in the state, introduced the bike taxis at a function for New Town on March 16.

It was decided in Thursday's meeting that New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) will set up six taxi sheds which will come up near the first rotary in New Town, near Pride Hotel crossing, near the bus shed at Narkelbagan, near Alia University bus stand, opposite City Centre 2 and opposite Axis Mall.

Bike taxis have become immensely popular in New Town because of its affordability factor.

The charge for the first two kilometres is Rs 20 and then Rs 5 per additional kilometre. There is additional helmet for the pillion rider and a panic button. Every taxi is fitted with GPS and during monsoon, there will be raincoats for pillion riders. The drivers have been given special training and they follow the copy book riding style, that is driving the two -wheelers at a maximum speed of 40 km per hour and take the left lane and never the right or the middle lanes which are used by most of the bike riders risking their lives. The bikes are fitted with GPS and a panic button.

Bike taxis have been immensely popular shortly after they were introduced. Within March 31, 6,000 people had downloaded the app and 623 people had availed the facilities. The bike taxis are very popular among students who go to different universities.

It was Debashis Sen who had first conceptualised it and held a series of meetings with Alapan Bandopadhyay, principal secretary Transport department, to prepare the details of the project. It took nearly one year to implement it as certain details like preparation of norms to treat the bikes as commercial vehicles, fixingthe maximum speed of the bikes etc were being decided upon.

HIDCO officials felt that the bike taxis have a bright future in Sector V where thousands of young people come for work.