Metro cycle feeder service till your colony

People who hire cycles on a daily basis from Delhi Metro stations will no longer have to return them to the station stand. HT reports

People who hire cycles on a daily basis from Delhi Metro stations will no longer have to return them to the station stand.

HT Image

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has come up with a proposal to set up four sub stations in the Rohini area, where travellers can drop the cycles after hiring them at the Metro station.

To offer an environment friendly mode of transport to citizens, the civic agency has decided to allow setting up of sub stations in colonies for ‘cycle feeder service’ to travel to and from Metro stations.

The proposal was given a green signal in the standing committee meeting of the MCD held on Wednesday.

This will be a pilot project and depending on its success, it will be introduced in other areas too.

A private firm, Delhi Cycles Pvt Ltd, has already been given a space in Rohini East Metro station by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to run the cycle feeder.

“However, citizens hiring the cycles at present require to return the same to the Metro station stand,” said a senior MCD official.

According to the pilot project, MCD will offer spaces at four places Patel Apartment Chowk, G S Apartment Sector 13, near M2K Sector 3 and Commercial Complex Sector 8 for the cycle sub stations for the next six months.

“If successful, it might be extended to more areas and further extended in the second phase with provision of battery operated cycles,” said Amiya Chandra, chief of MCD’s Remunerative Project Cell.

An electronic card attached with the cycle will store kinetic energy generated while paddling.

Later, the stored energy will be used to give a required push when one rides towards an elevated point.

“Through the mechanism, we will collect the energy in an electronic card, which a bicycle rider can use when required. When the cyclist paddles towards a height, he needs to put in extra labour. This stored energy will help make the riding effortless and smooth,” added the official.

In a computerised system, all trips will be automatically calculated and a monthly report submitted to MCD.

“The cycle service will help commuters reach residential colonies easily, as Metro feeder bus services are already overstretched and cycle rickshaws cost a lot. Many people drive their own four wheelers or two wheelers to Metro stations, but it creates chaos at parking lots,” added the official.

The company will charge Rs 3 for up to half an hour and will deploy a cashless automatic fare collection system based on smart cards.

It will use a unique cycle frame design to prevent thefts of the vehicles.