CHENNAI: The city corporation will roll out 250
shared cycles by October-end at
Anna Nagar,
Besant Nagar and
Marina Beach under the
smart city programme. People can use these cycles enabled with geo-fencing by unlocking them using a mobile QR code on subscription and dropping them off within the stipulated area.
This marks the first phase of the plan to deploy 5,000 cycles across 500 locations in the city. "The initial rates discussed are 5 per kilometre. This may be revised. There would also be monthly and yearly subscriptions to make the system sustainable," said Chennai Smart City Limited CEO Raj Cherubal.
Govinda Rao, corporation deputy commissioner, works, said the civic body was in talks with other departments such as metro rail and city police to finalise designs and locations of the cycle stations. "We will conduct joint inspections before launching the facility," he said. Metro rail had found its cycle sharing facility a success.
Officials said while the cycle-sharing system was a failure in Coimbatore and some other cities, it could be a success in Chennai as people could use cycles for leisure and last-mile connectivity. "We have done some ground work and research. Since metro rail is also very keen to implement it as they want to increase footfalls, we are sure it will be successful in Chennai," said Cherubal.
The corporation is gearing to launch an awareness campaign involving various cycling groups, students and youngsters. The tender was finalised a few months ago and contractors were taken on board. A Hyderabad-based consortium will handle the project. "We will launch it by October in three locations and extend it to other parts," said Raj.