Cycle-sharing system awaits CM’s appointment

“Last December, 123 bicycles were brought to the city from Hyderabad and stored at the basement of Amma Arangam in Shenoy Nagar,” a Chennai Corporation source said.

The source added that dockless bicycle stations are readied at about 20 locations, including some Metro Rail stations. “We are prepared to launch it once the CM confirms his date. We are expecting an official event before February 28,” the official added. The civic body is implementing the cycle system under Smart City mission and has roped in Hyderabad-based SmartBike to supply and operate the system.

A representative from SmartBike said that payment from the users would be collected using a mobile phone application. “The app is fully functional; it can be downloaded and used. To use the bicycles, the residents must create accounts by paying Rs 1. Once the account is activated, they can use the cycles. We have already fixed charges and the payment will be collected in cashless mode,” the representative said. The civic body proposed 4,976 bicycles across the city. During the first phase, 250 bicycles will be deployed. These hi-tech cycles were manufactured in Germany.