Trin Trin project delayed; BBMP drags feet on approval

Civic body did not approve the project though it came up several times before the council

The ambitious public bicycle-sharing project, otherwise called Trin Trin, still awaits approval from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

The project, proposed by the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), came up before the BBMP Council several times, but the civic body is yet to give its approval. The DULT prepared a detailed project report and sent it to the BBMP for approval in March, but it was kept pending due to the election code of conduct.

DULT's special officer N Murali Krishna said the project may come up again before the council on Monday. "The city police have already given their nod and now we are awaiting the BBMP's approval since the Palike gives the land to set up the public bicycle sharing (PBS) project," he added.

The state government had announced a PBS in select clusters in the 2017-18 budget.

In the first phase, the DULT identified 354 docking stations in the Central Business District (CBD), while the authorities identified two operators who would provide the bicycles.

Similar to Mysuru's Trin Trin project under the PBS initiative, the lanes would be constantly monitored by CCTV cameras to ensure motor vehicles do not drift in and obstruct cyclists.

The docket stations and technology used for PBS will be developed in the public-private partnership mode, while the rent tariff would be similar to Mysuru — Rs 5 for the first one to two hours, Rs 10 between two to three hours, and Rs 25 per hour after the third hour.

"Once the BBMP Council approves the project, the DULT will take up the work in 15 to 20 days," a DULT official said.