Pune, Dec 15 (UNI) Pune Smart City Development Corporation Limited (PSMDCL) on Thursday launched India's first public bicycle sharing project here in Savitribai Phule Pune University and smart city area Aundh.
The project, aptly called 'Zoom car PEDL', was launched on December 7 and within a week, nearly 6,000 students and citizens had enjoyed the cycle sharing.
As hundreds of students come to University campus daily for the academic purpose, PSMDC has launched the public cycle sharing service in the campus targeted at them.
Since Aundh-Baner-Balewadi area is selected for Smart City Development, this service was introduced in the area.
For this project, PSMDCL has made available 175 green and black coloured cycles with modern look and aluminium body, tubeless tyers, modern locking system, drum brakes and matching the era of new
technology.
Of the total cycles, 100 are in University campus and the remaining 75 in Aundh area.
Rajendera Jagtap, chief executive officer of PSMDCL said, "In those days cycle was the only affordable vehicle for students. As there was no heavy traffic in city, every citizen chose cycle to travel across the city. Pune got the identity as city of bicycles because of the highest number of cycles in city."
"Nowadays a cycle has multiple uses. Regular use of cycle is good for health and public health. To encourage
people for using cycle, in the smart city development plan dedicated tracks for cycles are reserved on the sides of roads," he said.
Mr Jagtap also added that from other suburban parts of Pune like Khadaki, Pune Cantonment, Magar Patta City demand for the public cycle sharing service is on the rise. For the purpose, PSMDL will conduct a survey in these areas.
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