Group Cycle ride on I-Day to take up pivotal urban issues

In a bid to reach out to the public on a wider scale for promotion of bi-cycles uses as a prominent mode of transportation here in Capital City, the members of Jharkhand Civil Society Manch, Ranchi have decided to conduct a group cycle ride on August 15.

According to the members, the cycle rally is an effort to make the city residents and State government aware about the need and importance of eco-friendly mode of transportation besides taking up other vital urban issues which needs immediate attention.

“We are trying to reach out to the city residents in a different way and make an appeal to the State government to adopt sustainable measures for uniform urban expansion. The rally which is being organized on the occasion of Independence Day has a symbolic reference. The group cycle ride which will be initiated from Big Bazaar to Jaipal Singh Stadium from 7 AM onwards will cover urban issues ranging from conservation of open spaces and restoration of water reservoirs to boosting up inept urban transportation mode,” said a member of Jharkhand Civil Society Manch – Ranchi, Khushboo Kataruka Modi.

Khushboo who is an advocate further stated that group of socially responsible citizens and others have joined hands for this much needed project ‘Pedal for a green and clean Ranchi’. “Earlier too the members of Jharkhand Civil Society Manch have raised several social and environmental issues and have received the support of the concerned agencies on various frontages,” she added. 

On the other hand, the ambitious ‘Cycle Sharing project’ which was likely to be initiated in mid May is hanging in the balance. According to an official of Smart City Corporation Limited, attempts are being made to start this much awaited venture at the earliest. “During the meeting with the Development Commissioner and Chief Secretary conducted recently, the officials of all the concerned agencies involved with the project have been instructed to further study the feasibility so that the service does not face any hiccup once it is started in a full-fledged way,” said an official of Smart City Corporation on anonymity.

State Urban Development Agency (SUDA) has signed an agreement with Ahmedabad-based Transport Company ‘Chartered Speed’. The company --‘Chartered Speed’ had recently partnered with Germany-based bicycle rental startup ‘Next-bike’ and is launching Cycle sharing project here in the State Capital.

The project involves whopping Rs. 21.8 crore. Over 122 spots have been indentified for construction of bi-cycle docks within the municipal periphery. Notably, in August 2017, the State cabinet had approved the proposal of starting the bicycle sharing project on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) mode and is one of the flagship ventures of the ‘Smart City’ plan.