By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 5: The Meghalaya government has decided to re-examine the public electric bicycle-sharing initiative ‘Ride Shillong’ after reports indicated that a significant number of e-bikes under the scheme had become non-functional.
Responding to questions on the performance of the project, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday said he had not yet carried out a detailed assessment of the situation but noted that it was natural for some initiatives to face difficulties during implementation.
He said programmes launched with good intent may sometimes require adaptation and course correction to ensure they succeed.
He said the intent behind the scheme was sound and remained unchanged, adding that the government would examine what went wrong and take necessary steps to make the initiative work.
He said trying new approaches was part of any development process, and that learning from outcomes whether successful or otherwise was essential.
Referring to reports that 13 e-bikes had been dumped or rendered unusable, the Chief Minister said he would verify the information.
He reiterated that the scheme had been launched with the right objectives and stressed that outcomes cannot be judged without first attempting implementation.
He said if the project had not taken off in the manner expected, it was the government’s responsibility to review, rework, and improve it.
He added that the initiative would not be abandoned and that efforts would continue to revive and strengthen it.
The Ride Shillong scheme was launched in August 2025 by the Chief Minister along with fitness icon Milind Soman, and was projected as a public electric bicycle-sharing programme aimed at reducing traffic congestion, lowering pollution levels, and promoting healthier lifestyles.
Of the more than 20 electric bicycles introduced under the scheme, at least 13 are currently non-functional, with several reportedly lying unused and deteriorating, raising concerns over implementation and maintenance of the project.
