Soon, travel from Santacruz to MU Kalina campus on e-bikes

In the coming months, students travelling to Mumbai University’s campus in Kalina can rent electric bikes from Santacruz station for the two-kilometre commute. Along

In the coming months, students travelling to Mumbai University’s campus in Kalina can rent electric bikes from Santacruz station for the two-kilometre commute. Along with this, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials are identifying other wards in the city and suburbs where the usage or footfall is high.

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Ashok Khairnar, assistant commissioner of BMC’s H-East ward that looks after areas around Bandra East, Khar and Santacruz East, said, “We have tentatively identified Santacruz station to Kalina campus of Mumbai University as one of the locations for the operation of electric bikes owing to the footfall.”

Khairnar further said, “We are also contemplating another route between Bandra East station to Bandra -Kurla Complex (BKC). Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is also working on a similar initiative. We will work out on these two locations for now.”

The MMRDA, had earlier this month, announced connecting BKC with Kurla and Bandra station by appointing a private firm for operating of electric bikes. As per the plan, the pilot project will be implemented for connecting different areas within BKC in the coming days.

The BMC had last year drafted a policy on renting of electric bikes in the city to have 1 lakh electric bikes in the coming years.

The initiative has taken off with a start of 5,000 or 10,000 e-bikes. There will be free parking for these bikes at designated slots, and e-bikes operators need not share operational revenue with them, apart from the revenue earned from advertisements. Operators will have to develop a mobile application wherein those wanting to rent e-bikes can check-in and check-out.