Jammu- The ambitious public bicycle sharing project rolled out in Srinagar under the Smart City Mission has come under scrutiny after official figures revealed that the scheme, which became operational in May 2023, has generated a meagre revenue of Rs 4.48 lakh, despite infrastructure and viability gap funding totalling a hefty Rs 13.20 crore.
The details were revealed in responses submitted by the administration in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly to questions raised by legislators Shamim Firdous and Mushtaq Guroo. The disclosures have raised concerns regarding the project’s sustainability and public reception.
According to the official data, Rs 9.06 crore has been spent on constructing dedicated cycle tracks in the Srinagar constituencies of Batamaloo, Hazratbal, and Lal Chowk. These tracks form part of broader urban renewal initiatives under the Smart City umbrella, including the Lakefront Development along the northern foreshore of Dal Lake and the Complete Street projects in Batamaloo and Lal Chowk.
In addition to the cycling infrastructure, the government has approved Rs 4.14 crore as viability gap funding for the bicycle sharing initiative, which is being executed through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Of the approved amount, Rs 1.2 crore has already been released to the private operator managing the project. This operator is tasked with maintaining a fleet of 900 bicycles and 100 docking stations under a five-year agreement.
The bike-sharing service was officially launched on May 20, 2023. From its inauguration until now, the project has only generated Rs 4,48,333 from user fees, raising questions about public uptake and operational viability.
The docking stations have been strategically placed across several key city zones, including Lal Chowk, Dal Gate, Hazratbal, Eidgah, Chanapora, and Bemina. The highest concentrations of these stations are found in Lal Chowk, Hazratbal, and Chanapora, selected in line with the Smart City Mission’s focus on promoting non-motorised transport and improving last-mile connectivity.
However, despite the scale of investment and the intent to create an eco-friendly urban transport solution, the low revenue figures have triggered debate over the project’s effectiveness and long-term feasibility.
All financial and project-related figures have been officially documented in responses submitted in the ongoing budget session of the J&K Legislative Assembly. The disclosures were made in response to queries raised by three lawmakers from Srinagar.
