Nashik: In an attempt to popularise the rent-a-cycle scheme, the civic body has decided to allow 30-minute free ride for the first five days after the inauguration of the project early next week. Thereafter, the charges will be Rs 5 for every 30 minutes. The project was started on trial basis at Golf Club ground on Friday.The civic body has acquired a fleet of 200 bicycles that would be available at 10 locations. These 10 locations include Golf Club ground, Mahatma Nagar, Jehan Circle, public library near Vidya Vikas Circle, Kavi Kusumagraj Smarak, Marathon Chowk, Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan and a few more locations on Trimbak Road and Dwarka.The project is a joint venture between the NMC and Hero Cycles under the smart city project.“We started the project on trial basis on Friday, but we didn’t continue next day because of labour problems,” said an official from Hero Cycle.“The project would be extended up to 150 locations shortly. The company has made available 200 cycles, while around 1,000 more would be provided within a month,” he added.The users will have to drop the cycles at cycle stations only. Those who park cycles at locations apart from cycle stations will have to pay penalty, an official said.“We will cover Satpur and Ambad industrial estates gradually. Hence, we will have some stations on Trimbak Road and Gangapur Road. This will help workers use cycles on rent,” he said.The revenue collected through renting cycles will be spent on maintenance and repair of cycles, an official said.

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