Navi Mumbai's 'cycles on rent' draw 10,000 users in 40 days

NAVI MUMBAI: Less than 45 days since a bicycle sharing scheme (rent a cycle) was launched in Nerul node of Navi Mumbai, over 10, 000 users have registered on its mobile app. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), in partnership with bicycle rental startup 'Yulu', has around 1,000 cycles at seven stations at present.

Now, the BMC plans to expand the services to about 60 locations in Belapur and Nerul in the next few weeks. Besides, it has set a target of inducting 1 lakh cycles in the next three years in an attempt to reduce carbon footprint in the city and imbibe cycling culture among the residents as part its eco-city initiative.



"The scheme has become popular now. This will certainly increase the fitness index of the city. The only thing we are missing is a dedicated cycle track, which has to be developed," said Sameet Choudhary, who has tried his hand at rent a cycle.

Yulu, which started the cycle sharing concept in Bengaluru is handling the operations in Navi Mumbai.

NMMC commissioner Ramaswami N said, "As compared to other cities that have introduced this project, the response has been encouraging. We have received over 10, 000 users and more people are demanding for expansion of the service to other nodes. The next destination is Belapur."

"We are charging the operator monthly rent for providing basic infrastructure for cycle stations. Some agencies have evinced interest to operate the scheme in other parts of the city. In the next three years, we aim to have 1 lakh cycles on rent in city," said Ramaswami. .