The state transport department is gearing up to include a bike service in its Yatri Sathi app for taxis, offering commuters a cost-effective option.
This strategic move of adding bike service to a cab-hailing app next year was to streamline the travel experience, said an official.
While still in the early stages of planning, the initiative aims at providing people the option of booking bikes, available within a 3km radius, connecting to key locations in Kolkata and to Howrah station, Sealdah station and the airport.
The implementation of this bike service in Kolkata would lay the foundation for its expansion to other districts as well, said an official.
Transport department officials, however, expressed concerns over the number of bikes that could be used as only a few two-wheelers in the are have commercial registration number plates.
Officials said while they were discussing the minimum fare for the bike rides, they would also have to come up with a mechanism to check cancellations by riders.
The bike option would present a competitive challenge to private app-based bike services, added an official.
