A new electric scooter rental service has launched in Kolkata, allowing residents to travel throughout the city using self-driven e-bikes. The service, which began on Wednesday, operates through a mobile app and has partnered with India Post to establish docking zones at post offices and other popular locations in Kolkata. The battery-powered bikes have a maximum speed of 25 kmph and initially launched with 350 green scooters. Commuters can pick up these scooters from nine docking stations, including five post offices (Dum Dum, Beadon Street, Bhowanipore, Sarat Bose Road, Tollygunge, and New Alipore) and three city crossings (Gariahat, Naktala, and Kasba). The service is available from 7am to 11.30pm.

Although this rental service has been available in New Town since 2021, it was previously operated by a different company. Basabjit Nag, founder and director of Dabadigo, the current operator of the service, stated that they conducted a trial run for two years, partnering with various offices to offer vehicles for office-to-office transfers and parcel delivery. On Wednesday, they commenced a full commercial launch of the service, introducing 350 new green scooters. Each scooter can accommodate two riders.

To utilize the service, users must download the mobile app on their smartphones and register with their photograph, mailing address, phone number, and government ID. The app allows users to locate the nearest available scooter at a docking point. To unlock an e-bike, users need to scan the QR code on the fender. If users need to make a stop during their ride, they can click on the “parking” option. At the end of their journey, riders must select the “end ride” option and make payment through mobile wallets, debit cards, or credit cards. Riders must then return the bike to any of the docking stations.

The partnership between the e-scooter operator and India Post was announced during an event held at the Bhowanipore post office on July 26. Anil Kumar, post-master general (mail management and business development) of West Bengal circle, and Bipasha Singla, director of postal services, attended the event.

Users can book the bikes for a minimum of 10 minutes and a maximum of one working day. The rate for a 10-minute ride is Rs 10, while an hour-long ride costs Rs 60. For a full day, riders will be charged Rs 333. Each bike is equipped with a sensor that allows operators to track its location. If a user leaves a bike unattended, operators can still track it and will subsequently block the user.

A postal department official expressed their support for the initiative, stating, “We want to offer as many non-polluting transportation options as possible. We are pleased to partner with this initiative. Some of our premises have ample parking areas where the bikes can be docked. Being located in prominent locations, users will find it easier to locate docking centers near post offices.”