Use e-bike for easy commute within BKC from tomorrow

MUMBAI : At a time when public transport options are minimal in the city, commuters will be able to travel in and around Bandrakurla Complex (BKC) using a newly launched electric bike facility. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) along with appbased e-bike sharing platform Yulu, will start providing the service from Monday (August 31).

Around 100 bikes will be available at nine different zones (like docking stations) at BKC, including two zones near the Bandra and Kurla suburban railway stations. Commuters will have to download the app, pay ₹5 to unlock the bike, post which they will be charged ₹1.5 per minute for the ride. Around nine additional zones will be added subsequently with more bikes, officials said, adding that the bikes will be ideal for short-distance commutes.

RA Rajeev, metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA, said, “The chief minister had inaugurated the bikes in January, but there were some delays owing to the pandemic. The service will start on August 31.”

Yulu was one of the top nine teams selected by MMRDA in November 2019, when the authority conducted a challenge for smart mobility solutions.

With the authority developing a 337-km Metro network in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), it has decided to also invest in last-mile mobility solutions. MMRDA recently invited bids for planning a transit system in BKC as it is cumbersome to reach the commercial hub from the two suburban railway stations. It also recently approved a plan to establish a multi-modal integration at 30 stations of Metro 2A (Dahisar-dn Nagar) and Metro 7 (Dahisar East-andheri East) corridors, expected to be operational by May 2021.

People can download the Yulu app and locate the nearest Yulu zone. They can then scan the QR code or enter the vehicle number to unlock the bike for ₹5. Users can end the ride on the app and will be charged accordingly. A refundable security deposit of ₹199 has to be paid for the service.

PEOPLE CAN DOWNLOAD YULU APP AND LOCATE THE NEAREST YULU ZONE. THEY CAN THEN SCAN THE QR CODE OR ENTER THE VEHICLE NUMBER TO UNLOCK THE BIKE FOR ₹5