On World Bicycle Day, iconic Atlas slams brakes on operations
LUDHIANA: After years of losses that were amplified during the coronavirus-induced lockdown, Atlas Cycles, one of country’s oldest bike-maker, shut its operations on Wednesday.
Ironically, the company’s decision to wind up its last working unit in Sahibabad (Ghaziabad) came on the World Bicycle Day (June 3). The iconic cycle company was into manufacturing business since 1951. The Sahibabad unit has the capacity to manufacture more than 4 million cycles per annum with a 1,200-strong workforce.
“Post lifting of lockdown with effect from June 1, 2020, the Sahibabad unit of the company is not in a position to resume manufacturing operations due to financial constraints. Hence, the workforce of Sahibabad unit of the company will be laid off with effect from June 3,” the company said in a public notice.
The notice said the severe cash crunch has made it difficult to even procure raw materials.
In December 2014, company’s Malanpur factory in MP closed down. In February 2018, Atlas Cycles (Haryana) said it was suspending manufacturing at its Sonepat unit.
Started by Janki Das Kapur, a man with dreams, in 1951, to provide quality bicycles to countrymen at reasonable prices, Atlas was a brand to reckon with even before Hero and Avon established themselves.
The company that started operations from an improvised factory shed in Sonepat in 1951 rose to establish major plants in Malanpur (MP), Sahibabad over the years.
“They were the biggest importers of cycles in Karachi before Partition. After 1947, they shifted to Sonepat and soon turned into one of the most trusted cycle brands,” said Harinder Singh Bhogal of Bhogal Cycles Limited.
“It’s unfortunate that the cycle industry pioneers have shut down,” said DS Chawla, president of United Cycle Parts Manufacturing Unit.