Babus to pedal their way to office

Starting from June 25, officers have to take bicycle or public transport

If you find heads of all the departments cycling their way to office every Monday, don’t mistake it for lack of motor facility. It’s a programme to be launched on June 25 (Monday) compelling the top most officers to take a bicycle ride henceforth, joining the league of green friendly officers.

Deputy Commissioner P S Vastrad has made pedalling bicycles mandatory for officers. In case of any health related complications, the officers can either walk or take public transport, such as government buses to reach their offices.

Presiding over the phone- in programme at his office on Thursday, deputy commissioner made it a point to campaign for the very cause asking the officers
attending the meeting to prefer bicycle instead of any other modes of transport.

“The students should also be made a part of the very programme by asking the managements of schools and colleges to play the role of a facilitator. Apart from saving fuel, cycling at least once in a week will help keep health in good stead”, deputy commissioner P S Vastrad said.

The schools and colleges should create sufficient space to park bicycles and also depute an exclusive guard to prevent any thefts.

The officer cited the example a software giant in Mysore, where bicycle is the mode of transport on the campus. The University of Mysore has also been requested to join the band of cycle friendly campuses, by instructing the students to emulate this model, the officer added.

To make existing roads in the city bicycle friendly, the officer instructed the departments concerned to paint cycle tracks with yellow. Besides, if any cyclist is killed in a mishap, the dependents should be paid a relief in the range of Rs five lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

Though cycle reigned in the meeting, the occasion was not devoid of complaints from the public. K Janardhan Bhat, a resident of third stage in Gokulam alleged that his complaint to forest department to fell five weak trees has fallen on deaf ears.

Though he submitted an application on February 24, the department is ye to get into action, Bhat alleged.

ZP CEO Ajay Nagabushan, deputy director, food and civil supplies, Kumuda Girish and other officers were present.