Do your bit in restoring past glory of Ranchi, once known as the ‘summer capital’ of the belt, and paddle the change city commutation is underway at present. This must be the idea when the Ranchi Smart city Corporation’ went ahead launching first of its kind cycling project meant for the residents on Sunday.
Taking the much talked about ‘Go Green’ initiative ahead in a smarter way, the ambitious ‘Public Bicycle Sharing System’ made its debut in the State Capital. With the launch of this eco-friendly mode of transportation, Ranchi entered into the league of metropolis cities that have extensively promoted the public cycle sharing system on a much bigger platform to curtail several environmental nuisances.
The ‘Green Bike’ venture that is expected to cost Rs 21.8 crore began with a Cyclothon - a cycle rally engaging approximately 300 people from all walks of life. Around 200 fitness freaks, green enthusiasts participated in the mega event covering a distance of five kms. Encouraging the enthusiasm of the participants, the dignitaries present there too enjoyed the special bike ride.
During the programme organised under the aegis of Chartered Bike Private Limited, a mobile app — ‘Charteredbike’ was launched in the presence of Minister, Department of Urban Development CP Singh, Kanke MLA Jitu Charan Ram, Municipal Commissioner Manoj Kumar, Director State Urban Development Agency Amit Kumar, Secretary Department of Urban Housing, Planning and Development Ajoy Kumar Singh including other dignitaries.
The mobile-app designed for real time monitoring of customised bicycles, contains the rental details including parking and return criteria. It has features that allow the bicycles to be locked and unlocked via app, through mediums like mobile scanning, PIN code or radio frequency identification smart cards.
The attempt of Ranchi Smart City Corporation Limited, Department of Urban Development, Housing and Planning including the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) is to popularise the service of customised ‘bicycle’ among the residents who can avail the facility free of cost till March 9.
Further, initiatives like cost effectiveness, promotion through radio jingles, van campaign, reasonable membership fees, android based mobile application service for additional facilities including regular servicing has been also taken into consideration to promote the endeavour.
The company – Chartered Bike had recently partnered with Germany-based bicycle rental startup ‘Next-bike’ to provide technical assistance in popularising the project here. The venture conceived with 1,200 customised cycles covering 120 ‘Bi-cycle Docks’ has been started with 600 bicycles connecting to 60 docks in the first phase.
Cycles fitted with GPS would be available on daily, monthly and yearly basis involving membership fee of Rs 30, Rs 200 and Rs 1,000, respectively. As per the clauses, an additional rental charge will be incurred on those who contravenes the given time schedule. Also, a penalty of Rs 5,000 will be imposed on the riders who deliberately damage the government property or do not put the bicycles at its designated docks in a given timeframe.
According to an official of Ranchi Smart City Corporation Limited, Chartered Bike has been given the responsibility of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of the ‘Smart Bikes’ for six years. “As per the agreement, for the six months technical experts of the company will be present on all the 60 docks to assist the riders. In addition, the company has made the arrangements of night guards who will take care of the bicycles during the night hour,” said PRO–Ranchi Smart City Corporation Limited, Amit Parmar.
The project that intends to infuse smoke-free commutation caught public attention on its inaugural day in good numbers. Considering the enthusiasm, Minister CP Singh said, “The project started in the State Capital is just for the public benefit. Keeping health and environmental degradation factors, the project has been given green signal despite several stumbling blocks.” The Minister on the occasion urged to the locals to avail the facility of the customised cycles at least for covering small distances.