In a novel way to encourage people to enjoy the beauty of Jubilee Park without spreading pollution and adopt fitness culture, JUSCO on Friday launched 1st Automated Bicycle Sharing (ABS) System.
This pilot deployment consists of 34 bicycles and is aimed at improving eco-friendly and healthy mobility. The initiative has been started in association with Tilt and Tata International.
Amit Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, East Singhbhum along with Chanakya Chaudhary, vice president, corporate services, Tata Steel launched the project. Kumar welcomed the move and said that the service will give a message of fitness for the citizens.
Chanakya Chaudhary said they are providing the service at three stations inside the park and based on the feedback they will spread it across the city.
As part of the project, bicycles will be provided for the visitors on selected routes inside the park. Each cycle will be fitted with GPS tracker which we can note the location of the cycles and prevent them from leaving their designated areas.
According to Jusco officials associated with the project, routes have been identified in a manner that cyclists can ride the entire park to enter Tata Steel Zoological Park too.
“Cycling is becoming a passion in the city. We have launched the GPS enabled cycling service at Jubilee Park. We want to spread the message of fitness by promoting cycling,” said Tarun Daga, managing director, Jusco. The service will be available from 7 am to 5 pm every day of the week. It is available anyone who is 16 years or above. The cost is Rs 10 for 30 minutes and Rs 15 for an hour. According to an estimate about 3,000 people visit Jubilee Park every day while the number swells to 5,000 on weekends. The park gates are closed to vehicular traffic from 9pm to 6.45am.
"It is our ambitious project and we are going to provide cycle rides not only across Jubilee Park routes but also inside Tata Steel Zoological Park. As part of the project smart cards will be given to users and while taking cycles an amount will be deducted from their e-wallets for use of each cycle," said the senior official in the Jusco team. The bicycles are fitted with GPS that would enable the authorities to track movements from the control room. The person hiring the cycle will have to return it to the nearest docking station from his destination.
