Red tape delays bikes at metros

Hyderabad: The Smartbike programme in Hyderabad, launched two years at a few metro stations, has been in limbo because of delays in permissions to operate feeder stations and expand its network to other parts of the city.

For nearly a year, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has kept the company guessing about when it can expand its network of stations.

Almost exactly two years ago, when the Hyderabad Metro was thrown open to the public, a bike-sharing programme, SmartBike, was inaugurated at some stations. Regular commuters could rent bicycles from these stations and use them to get to their offices and homes. This was meant to be a solution to the "first and last mile connectivity" for metro users.

The pilot programme was launched at six locations — Miyapur, JNTU, KPHB and Kukatpally — and two feeder stations outside JNTU and Miyapur X Roads. The points inside the metro stations are being operated with permissions from HMRL. Permissions for the feeder stations lapsed nearly a year ago.

Abhinandan Malhotra, vice president of SmartBike Mobility, said the company has been trying to get the permissions renewed as well as approvals for expansion but they have been kept waiting for a long time. “Currently, GHMC is letting us operate the feeder stations in good faith,” he added.

The original project was supposed to serve as a feasibility study for the GHMC, HMRL and SmartBike. “After about a year, once we studied the usage habits and feedback, we decided to scale up our operations and expand to over 20 locations within the IT corridor. But it was then that our permissions lapsed. Since then we have been waiting for GHMC to give us the green light,” said Abhinandan.

D.V. Manohar, chairman of Smarbike Mobility, said, “Our company has major projects in other cities. In Delhi and Chennai, we have won contracts to set up similar SmartBike projects. But we really want to succeed in Hyderabad, our home city.” He added that once they get the permissions, they will introduce electric pedal-assisted bicycles at their stations. “These will require only one-third of a person's effort. It will help riders navigate hilly terrain in many parts of the city,” he said.

Though, according to Manohar, the SmartBike project has the blessings of MAUD minister, K.T. Rama Rao, there have been inordinate delays in according the permissions. “Rama Rao has personally assured us that cycling infrastructure, including our bike stations, are a priority for the government. We are only waiting for the permissions,” he said.

Meanwhile, GHMC Commissioner, D.S. Lokesh Kumar, said the permissions would take around 45 days. “We have received the company’s proposals with regard to the locations where they want to open bike stations. However, minister Rama Rao has issued strict instructions to us that we cannot allow pedestrian spaces (footpaths) to be occupied by bike stations. So it is taking us time to find footpaths with sufficient buffer space where bike stations can be set up on. We will have a clear picture in 40-45 days,” he said.