By Namita TewariNew Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) You could soon see Bollywoodsuperstar Salman Khan pedalling on the newly-built cycle trackon the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, promoting a healthy lifestyleas the brand ambassador of the government's initiative topopularise e-cycles.
Modi cabinet's 'go-getter' minister Nitin Gadkari, apassionate advocate for electric vehicles, said the governmentwants to encourage cycling as a healthy mode oftransportation.
An e-cycle, which comes equipped with a small electricmotor, can be used to cover greater distances than plainbicycles.
"Salman Khan has discussed the issue with me. He is alsolooking into the aspects of manufacturing e-cycles. It willcreate huge awareness among the masses," the road transportand highways minister told PTI.
The 'Being Human Foundation' of Salman Khan, an avidcycler himself, is in talks with e-cycle manufacturers for atie-up, sources said.
The minister said some two to three years back when hestarted talking about environment-friendly fuel, peoplethought he was nuts, but now they are beginning to realise itsadvantages.
"Bringing e-vehicles besides other environment-friendlyfuel is my dream," the minister said.
Gadkari said the first leg of the Delhi-MeerutExpressway, which includes India's first 14-lane highway, hasa 2.5-metre wide cycle track and is set for launch any day nowafter being completed in record 14 months as against thescheduled 30 months.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 31, 2015 hadlaid the foundation stone of the Rs 7,566 crore expressway,saying it will bring people "freedom from pollution", the wayMeerut showed the way towards freedom in 1857.
The minister said almost all new highways and expresswayswill have separate cycle tracks and people will be encouragedto use those for last mile connectivity, thereby benefitingthem health-wise as well.
"I appeal to the countrymen to use bicycles as much aspossible. It has huge health benefits and will go a long wayin minimising vehicular pollution.
"We have already proposed to make cycle tracks on allmajor roads across the country, including on highways. I amdoing this in my constituency Nagpur also," Gadkari said.
He said cycling is the best form of transport to curbvehicular pollution and the government will not lag behind increating world-class infrastructure for it, matching advancedcountries.
"In five years, I think we will be at par with advancednations," he said, adding when people in countries likeNetherlands could do this, why not those in India.
The image of a smiling Prime Minister Modi sitting on abicycle, an unusual gift from his Dutch counterpart MarkRutte, in June this year is still fresh in public memory.
Rutte, 50, who usually pedals to work, had praised Modifor sustainable initiatives like 'Clean India' and 'Make inIndia'.
In Netherlands, known as the the flower shop of theworld, cycling is a way of life with 18 million bicycles forjust 16 million inhabitants, as per the Dutch government. PTINAMABM.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.