Hubballi residents can cycle their way around on ‘Savari’

HUBBALLI: More than five years since ‘Trin Trin’, the country’s first public bicycle sharing (PBS) system was rolled out in Mysuru city, residents of Hubballi-Dharwad have been eagerly awaiting a similar initiative that encourages eco-friendly modes of transport.
Their wait is now about to end, with the Hubballi-Dharwad Smart City Ltd (HDSCL) assuring the citizenry of rolling out the PBS in Hubballi. The project is being executed at an estimated cost of Rs 8.5 crore. As of now, there are six docking stations across Hubballi, and HDSCL, which had launched the initiative on an experimental basis to gauge probable public response, appears satisfied with the feedback to embark on a full-fledged expansion.
Currently, users can choose only from regular bicycles, but HDSCL is eager to offer electric bikes too. While users will be charged Rs 5 per hour for the conventional bicycles, rent for the electric bikes will be Rs 10 per hour. That a whopping 34 docking stations have now been erected across Hubballi is a testament to the scale of the PBS initiative, dubbed ‘Savari’ in the North Karnataka city.
HDSCL managing director Shakeel Ahmed said that, they launched the PBS experiment a week ago to test the waters, and to collect public feedback. “As of now, docking stations near Khodays Hostel, Shirur Park Bridge, Akshay Colony, Tolankere Lake, Tolankere Back Gate and Renuka Nagar are operational,” Ahmed said.
He said that the agency would soon launch a campaign to promote ‘Savari’ among the residents of Hubballi. Among others, even corporators who had used the bicycles had offered invaluable feedback to HDSCL, Ahmed added. “Hubballi-based Trinity Technologies and Software Solutions Pvt Ltd will operate and maintain the docking stations,” the HDSCL MD said.
Trinity Technologies and Software Solutions Pvt Ltd MD, Rajneesh Ganjyal said that, in the past week, 171 residents had registered for the ‘Savari’ initiative, of whom 18 were using it actively.
“Heeding public demand, it was decided to revise our schedule, by opening docking stations at 6.30am. The stations will remain open till 9pm. Soon, 10 more stations will be operational, and in a month, all 34 kiosks will be open. At each station, we will offer guidance on unlocking, and docking the bicycle. And in the event of confusion on the part of the users, they can always call the Savari call centre, and personnel, working in two shifts, will respond to their queries,” said Ganjyal.
Impressed with the number of women renting cycles, Ganjyal said a user would be charged from the time the cycle was taken from one docking station, till it was returned to another.