The Indian Express          02.07.2013

HUDA introduces an eco-friendly way to explore Gurgaon

According to a senior HUDA official, a pilot project will be run in a couple of areas to assess the response and then a proposal for setting up more stations will be accepted. Initially, the pilot will run along four stations — HUDA City Centre, IFFCO Chowk, MG Road and Dronacharya.

HUDA will provide land on the green belt for these stands, while the operation of the project will be handled by a private firm, an official said.

S Narayan, Operations Manager of Planet Advertising said: "We had shared a proposal with the HUDA authorities to set up cycle stands just like the ones we set up in BRT, Delhi. After it became popular there, we were asked to create a pilot in Gurgaon. The idea is to generate awareness among residents and commuters about the benefits of cycling and use of non-motorable transportation (NMT) which is otherwise, lacking in Gurgaon."

Planet Advertising is also planning to introduce maps on the stands to guide people not familiar with Gurgaon. The bikes introduced at the pilot station are green sports mountain rangers.

One stand has the capacity tohold 20 cycles, each of which can be rented at Rs 10 per hour. But the charge increases to Rs 100 at night (so that the cycles are returned timely), officials said.

To hire a cycle, an original ID proof (voter card, driving license or passport) is required to be submitted with the attendant and the mobile number of the person will also be noted. The ID will be returned when the cycle is returned. One can also become a member for an annual charge of Rs 100.

The stand will function from 9 am to 7 pm and free parking will also be available on priority basis. Any physical damage to the cycle, will be charged. The planning and operation is our responsibility and we hope to create more of such stands soon, said the official.

Children and students need to seek permission or submit their parents' ID proofs for a ride. If a person keeps a cycle for more than 24 hours, an FIR will be filed at the nearest police station.

The Hindu               02.07.2013

Corporation to serve city’s taste buds now

Rajesh Nair

The Corporation here is diversifying its area of service, planning now to cater to the city’s ever-developing taste buds.

A new venture from the local body is the Ananthapuri café’, one of the two food outlets the Corporation will open to serve traditional cuisines at subsidised rates. Three mobile cafeterias are also part of the plan, and will soon hit important city centres.

Ananthapuri café’ will come up inside the civic body’s jubilee memorial building opposite SMV school at Ayurveda College junction.

The ground floor of the memorial building will be converted into a café, which would serve vegetarian and non vegetarian items. The project was part of last year’s Budget and preliminary work had already commenced. The café would be opened by end of this year, Welfare Standing Committee Chairman Palayam Rajan has said.

A sum of around 40 lakh had been earmarked for the café in the current budget, he said, adding the work would be expedited once the District Planning Committee gave its approval for the annual plan. Around 30 women selected by Kudumbasree would be given training to develop their culinary skills. The café, besides having facility to accommodate around 50 persons at a time, would have a parcel counter, the chairman said.

The use of plastic would be prohibited and a biogas plant would be installed inside the café. The gas generated from the plant would be used for the working of the boiler in the hotel. An officer from the health wing would be entrusted with the task to monitor the quality of food served, he added.