An initiative jointly launched by Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) and Ranchi Smart City Corporation to promote green mobility ‘Shaniwar No Car’ is gaining popularity among common masses on the second day of the initive as a large number of people were seen riding bicycles on the streets of the State Capital on Saturday.
A large number of commoner, officials, government and private sector employees rode bicycles and appealed to the people to do their daily work on a cycle at least once a week. Many officials and employees of Ranchi Smart City Corporation also reached the office by bicycle. General Manager Rakesh Kumar urged the officials and employees that they must reach the office at least on Saturday by bicycle. On this occasion, the slogan of ‘Shaniwar No Car’ was also chanted.
It is to be noted that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India has started the India Cycle Power Change Challenge program in which all the smart cities as well as many cities with a population of more than 5 lakh have participated. In the first phase of this challenge, a smart city-based survey was conducted by the Smart City and several cycle rallies were carried out. Work is underway to mark cycle lanes in some routes for the second phase.
Several similar programme organized in the State Capital to promote green mobility. RMC Deputy Municipal Commissioner Kunwar Singh Pahan launched Cycling near Morabadi, Ram Dayal Munda Park on Saturday. Ranchi University Professor, Prakash Jha alos ride on bicycle along with other university officials and staff.
Notably, people are being urged for cycling through various social media platforms to take this campaign forward. For its widespread publicity, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter are being resorted to. Variable message sign boards at more than 50 square intersections of the capital are also being sent to encourage cycling.
The officials who reached the smart city were cycling, apart from Smart City General Manager Rakesh Kumar Nandakolyar, Public Relations Officer Amit Kumar, Revenue Manager Ravi Pandey, Procurement Manager, Subir Acharya, JuteCall Manager Ashutosh Kumar, Legal Executive, Satish Kumar, PS to CEO Abhishek Kumar, Assistant Archita Kumari, Accountant Manish Kumar, Accountant, Ramesh Singh, Assistant Niranjan Kumar and others.