Public bicycle sharing system soon in Sgr, SSCL invites bids

In an endeavour to make Srinagar eco-friendly, the Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) intends to prepare a detailed public bicycle sharing system plan in the city under Smart City projects.

Sources said that Srinagar Smart City Limited has invited bids for the project by January 10th. A senior official affiliated with the project told , “We are planning to make to make Srinagar attractive and eco-friendly and one of the ways to make this true is by introducing a public bicycle sharing system”.

He added, “The plan includes preparation of a citywide network of bicycle tracks, docking station and their fleet sizes, MIS and operational guidelines for a citywide public”.

“The bicycle-sharing system is to be implemented in phases”, he added, adding that he said that the public bicycle sharing system is expected to link to the city’s bus transit, popular tourist destinations as well as common destination such as schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, libraries and market places.

He added, “As part of the Smart City project cycle tracks have been proposed in various parts of the city. It is also envisaged to have bicycles sharing scheme, including cycle stands to be implemented in Srinagar city”.
“The bid process has been initiated, which shall end on January 10th and we are hopeful to get a fruitful result”, he added. The official added that Srinagar Smart City Limited has further initiated the tender for the redevelopment of the Cycle track along Chunti Kul from Dalgate junction up to Budshah Bridge M.A. Road.

It is pertinent to mention here that last year, under the Smart City project, the administration in Srinagar had initiated a 5-km -long cycle track on the North-South corridor from Elahibagh junction to Soura junction in Phase-I.

It was informed that the cycle track has been designed as per IRC specifications and MORTH guidelines. Also including a pedestrian pathway alongside it, the cycle track was being developed with a width of 2.5 meters along with a one-meter wide footpath. It was also informed that planning has been initiated for another cycle track on similar lines.

However, the project was halted after the authorities found there is a high volume water pipeline underneath the site along the stretch. Meanwhile, an official said that the PHE department is planning to replace the pipes there. “The cycle track work would be done after the pipeline relaying by the PHE is done”, he added.