Cycle-sharing scheme exempted from advertisement order

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 21

The Administration has exempted the public bicycle sharing system from the Advertisement Control Order-1954, paving the way for the success of the project. While the Municipal Corporation has issued the request for proposal (RFP) for the project, MC officials were skeptical of getting a good response under the existing Advertisement Control Order, which put many restrictions on the company intending to run the project through the PPP mode.

The MC proposes to give the project for 11 years, but under the clause 3 of the Advertisement Control Order, the project could only be allowed for a maximum of five years.

Clause 23 (a) of the order restricts space for the display of advertisements, whereas the cycle sharing system requires different advertisement sizes.

The company was also required to pay a separate advertisement fee under the order. Sources said now with the control order exempted, the MC would not only allot the project for the next 11 years, but the company too could put up advertisements without any restriction on their size.

Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL) has already invited a tender for the implementation of the project.

The company will make 600 points in the city, where approximately 5,000 bicycles will be available for residents. Instead of opting for a taxi or a bus, one will be able to take a bicycle from one point and leave it at the next point (close to his/her destination).

The residents will be provided RIFD cards through which they can pay the rent for the cycles they use.

These GPRS-installed bicycles will be monitored through a control room. In the first phase, bicycle sharing points will be introduced in Sector 17, Panjab University, Sukhna Lake, Rose Garden, PGI, bus stand and other busy places of the city.

The routes will be decided in such a way that all tourist areas and educational institutes are covered.

The scheme is being implemented with an aim to reduce the vehicular movement and reduce pollution levels in the city.