NEW DELHI: South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has initiated the tendering process for setting up 82 e-bike and e-cycle stations in its residential neighbourhoods, parking lots and near Metro stations.
Officials of the civic body claimed that the e-cycles will be battery-operated, run at a speed of 15-20 km/per hour and have the option of using pedals for riding. In comparison, e-bikes will run at a maximum speed of 25 km/hour and won’t have an option for pedals. At each station, electricity connection through power discoms will be provided for charging the batteries.
The civic body will help in providing land for setting up the stations, getting necessary permissions from the land-owning agencies or Delhi government and the rest of the cost will be incurred by the concessionaire. “Though the cost of the e-bikes and e-cycles will be finalised after the bidding process, we are assuming that the minimum cost of an e-cycle would be Rs 25,000 and e-bike Rs 40, 000,” said an official.
After the NGT’s direction to promote facilities for last-mile connectivity, the south corporation had formulated a policy for e-bikes last year.
“Besides boosting last-mile connectivity, the facility will be cost-effective and an environment-friendly option for city residents. After passing the policy about seven months back, we had called tenders in June, but due to the pandemic, there were no encouraging responses. Also, the project needs huge investment as the costs of e-bikes and e-cycles are really high compared to that of the normal cycles used in other areas. Setting up stations will also involve huge costs,” said Prem Shankar Jha, SDMC deputy commissioner, remunerative and project cell.
To avail of the service, users will have to register on SDMC’s app and then they can hire an e-bike for a maximum of up to 10 hours and use it within the south corporation’s jurisdiction. “The amount will increase at the rate of Rs 10 /hour,” said the official.
“The concessionaire can track the movement and position of e-bikes and e-bicycles through a wireless system. The system will also have real-time monitoring of station occupancy rates,” added the official.
For each docking station, SDMC will provide space of 25 square metres and 12 bikes can be parked there. “Spaces for 4-5 bikes will be kept free all the time so that people coming from other places in south Delhi can leave/park them there. Based on the response to this facility, we may increase the number of stations in future.”
The civic body has, meanwhile, decided to continue with the nine cycling stations constructed on the BRT corridor about two years back.
