Crank call

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation gave another push to cycling in the city by extending its ‘rent-a-bicycle’ service to Patel Chowk, Pragati Maidan and Indraprastha Metro stations, reports Manoj Sharma.

If you are love cycling, and miss it in your punishing daily routine, here is some good news for you. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Thursday gave another push to cycling in the city by extending its ‘rent-a-bicycle’ service to Patel Chowk, Pragati Maidan and Indraprastha Metro stations.

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The scheme was started with seven bicycles at Vishwa-vidyalaya station in 2007.

The cycle rental facility at the three new stations is aimed at tourists and those who have their offices in the vicinity.

“During the last one year, we had been getting a lot of queries from people who wanted us to start a cycle rental facility at Patel Chowk station. There are many tourists sites, such as India Gate, Jantar Mantar and Connaught Place near Patel Chowk that tourists can explore on a bicycle,” said Anuj Dayal, Chief Public Relation Officer, DMRC.

Each of these Metro stations will have 10 cycles with helmets — six for men and four for women, and the rent is a mere Rs 10 for four hours. The commuters have to provide a photo identity proof for availing of the facility.

DMRC has been trying to encourage use of bicycles as a feeder service from the very beginning.

All Metro stations have designated spaces for cyclists at their parking lots.

At stations such as Seelampur, Shahdara and Dwarka Mor, about 500 cycles each are parked everyday. While smart card holders of Delhi Metro can park their bicycles free of cost at the parking lots, others have to pay only Rs 2 per day for parking their bicycles at the stations.