New Town: Six-day cycle festival ends

Kolkata: The six day cycle festival in New Town came to an end with a cycling race for men and women at the Eco Urban Village.

The race was flagged off by Debashis Sen, chairman of Housing infrastructure Development Corporation ( HIDCO).

The festival started on October 15 with a slow cycling race by Sabuj Sathi and Kanyashri recipients from the neighbouring villages of New Town. This was followed by demonstration on safe cycling at Eco Park. There was race for children and treasure hunt on cycle.

The top three winners of the cycling race from both men's and women's categories received medals while the participants received certificates.

New Town is the only area in India where cycle sharing scheme has been introduced and e cycles will be launched soon. There is graded cycle path. A state of the art shade has come up near the pedestrian subway off Nazrul Tirtha where the villagers from neighbouring areas can keep their cycles and go for work. They collect the cycles in the late afternoon or evening and leave for their homes. Seventy cycles can be docked. There are CCTV cameras to prevent theft of cycles.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's pet project Sabuj Sathi bagged international award in 2020. She urged businessmen to set up cycle factories in Bengal as there is a steady flow of cycles. She has asked the police to prepare a blue print to introduce graded cycle route in Kolkata proper.