Hyderabad’s first bicycling station was launched on Sunday in Gachibowli in order to promote ‘cycle to work’ culture. The Bike Station, as it is called, is a combined initiative of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation(APIIC), Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) and Hyderabad Bicycling Club (HBC).
Governor ESL Narasimhan inaugurated the bicycle station in Gachibowli located opposite of Bio Diversity Complex and also flagged off a bicycle rally called Bicycle 2013 in which 1,000 cyclists participated. The station has been built by GHMC and houses 300 bicycles contributed by the HMR.
The station is the idea of HBC which seeks to promote ‘cycle to work’ culture among techies. “Though the landscape of Cyberabad has been rapidly transforming into an international city, the pollution levels, mainly emanating from vehicles, are not checked”, said DV Manohar, chairman of HBC.
The HBC in collaboration with GHMC, APIIC and HMR are in the process of positioning cycles at various metro stations and planning to build exclusive cycling tracks connecting Cyberabad to other important areas.
“Office-goers getting down at the Hitec City metro station can borrow a bicycle from the bike station and cycle down to their work places and then return the bicycle while commuting back to catch the train”, added DV Manohar.
GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu, mayor Majid Hussain and state ministers Danam Nagender, Prasad Kumar were also present.
The bike station is fully enclosed, has provision for snacks and beverages along with rest rooms. It has well landscaped parks on either side along with cemented approach roads.