Winner of the Cycle 4 Change Challenge Launched by MoHUA in 2020
New Town Kolkata
New Town Kolkata with its commitment to sustainable green transport and its extensive cycling ecosystem has been declared a winner in the Cycle 4 Change Challenge launched by MoHUA in 2020. In a ceremony chaired by Secretary MoHUA, on 28th July 2021, the winners of the challenge were declared. Each of the winners of the competition will be awarded with Rs 1 crore as prize money.
107 cities from across the country participated in the Cycle 4 Change Challenge in July 2020. Basis evaluation by national and international jury members, New Town has been declared a winner of this prestigious Challenge.
The Challenge focused on consulting stakeholders from across socio-economic strata living and visiting the city, to assess and examine their requirement for alternate green clean transport. Stakeholder consultation and handle bar surveys were conducted to identify, on the ground challenges to be overcome to promote cycling in the city. The consultations were inclusive, focusing on feedback from the informal sector workforce, women, children, elderly and sports enthusiasts.
New Town has built a cycling network comprising 20 km of cycle tracks / lanes and proposes to build another 70 km with all ancillary cycle infrastructure – cycle stand, signage, signal, cross over. The Public Bicycle Sharing systems has been re-launched in New Town with 100 pedal bicycles, 400 e-bikes and 23 docking station. The cycling interventions have increased the city’s carbon offset by almost 29% quarterly.
Amidst the pandemic, the cycling initiative undertaken in New Town provided citizens and visitors a safe and sustainable means of transport ensuring compliance to all Covid safety norms. Bicycle ridership in New Town has increased by almost 50% over the last quarter due to the safe cycle infrastructure developed by NKDA and HIDCO.