Days before the launch of India’s first public bicycle sharing (PBS) initiative, Trin Trin, the authorities were shocked to find one of the bicycles stolen from the docking station at Lingaiah Circle in Ashokapuram in the city. This naturally raises larger questions about the scheme’s security. It may force the authorities to deploy a patrol near docking stations.
The bicycle was wrested out of its docking station by force, said Javare Gowda, Assistant Commissioner of Mysuru City Corporation’s (MCC) Zone 2, who is also the nodal officer for Trin Trin. A total of 450 bicycles will be placed for public use at 48 docking stations as part of the PBS. The docking stations were planned to be unmanned, and the theft has come as a dampener to the authorities.
The bicycles are to be rented out with the user placing the smart card on the reader next to the docked cycle and secure its release. When ret turning the bicycle, the user will have to slide the bicycle clip into an empty dock, which will indicate completion of the transaction on the reader.
“Te theft is disappointing as it is a good facility that benefits the people of Mysuru,” said a representative of Green Wheel Ride, a Mysuru-based company, which will be operating the PBS. The bicycles will have to remain in the docking station overnight as the PBS operates from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Mysuru Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep told The Hindu that the authorities had not expected such a theft in a city like Mysuru. CCTV cameras should act as a deterrent to miscreants, he said.
“We may have to consider patrolling near the docking stations,” he said, adding that a formal request in this regard should come from the vendor, Green Wheel Ride, and the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), which is implementing the project.
Bypoll effect: Launch to be deferred?
Will the launch of Trin Trin, scheduled this month-end, be deferred on account of bypolls to Nanjangud and Gundlupet Assembly constituencies?
Even though the enforcement of the model code of conduct is restricted to the two constituencies, and there is no bar on launch of the facility in Mysuru city, officials are not sure of the participation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister in charge of Mysuru district, H.C. Mahadevappa in the programme.
“If they come to Mysuru to inaugurate Trin Trin in their official capacities, they can’t proceed for campaigning from here. They will have to return and come back again for campaigning,” said an official well-versed with the norms of the model code of conduct.
Though the Government had tentatively scheduled the launch in the last week of March, it is likely to be put off till the conclusion of the election process on April 13. Officials of the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), which is implementing the project, said they were awaiting clarification from senior government officials and the Election Commission.
