MCG ties up with e-scooter firm for connectivity

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has signed a five-year agreement with mobility startup Mobycy to help improve last-mile connectivity in the city by offering them free parking space at busy locations and offer their e-scooters for hire. An authorisation letter to this effect was signed by MCG commissioner Yashpal Yadav on January 16.

At the moment, 250 such scooters have been deployed for commuters travelling between the Huda City Centre and Sector 44, Sushant Lok, Sector 54 and 56 and Cybercity Rapid Metro station. In the coming months, the firm plans to offer at least 2,000 more such scooters in other areas with high traffic volume.

Yadav said the company had requested for 20 free spots across the city. “We will process the requests next week and keep an eye on how people respond to the service,” he said.

At present, the only available options for last-mile connectivity at these locations are auto rickshaws, which charge a minimum of ₹50, or private cabs, which are more expensive. These services add to congestion, Yadav said.

MCG executive engineer Raman Yadav, who is looking into the project, said, “The MCG provides free parking space to autorickshaws so there’s no reason why we cannot provide free parking space to e-scooters. They might be cheaper for commuters and there are no emissions.”

Mobycy founder Akash Gupta said, “While the MCG is not directly responsible for the transport infrastructure in Gurugram, they have allotted these spaces to us free in interest of commuters.”

Gupta said these e-scooters are gearless and do not require helmets, drivers’ licences or registrations as per the Motor Vehicle Act. “In the legal sense, it is the same as riding a bicycle,” he said.

The scooters have been safety tested by International Centre for Automotive Technology in Manesar, which is a government-approved facility, and have a top speed of 25kmph.

From the MCG’s perspective, these scooters will not only reduce congestion but also help reduce air pollution. “There has been a big push in recent years even from the Centre to promote the use of electric vehicles which are emission-free. In Gurugram, where the number of private vehicles is higher, we need to promote such eco-friendly transport options to supplement our efforts to fight air pollution,” Yadav said.