Advocate Tashi Gyalson, Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of LAHDC Leh, together with Deputy Chairman Tsering Angchuk and District Commissioner Santosh Sukhdeve, distributed e-cycles to beneficiaries under the LAHDC's subsidy scheme on November 12 at the District Motor Garage in Leh.

In addition to distributing e-cycles, CEC Gyalson, along with other dignitaries, flagged off the e-cycles and school buses as part of the event, highlighting the council’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

CEC Gyalson shared that the e-cycle initiative was launched last year at the council level, offering a 40% subsidy to encourage the public to adopt cleaner modes of transport. "The main objective of promoting e-cycles is to create a cleaner, greener Ladakh," he explained. “This initiative is a small step towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a carbon-neutral Ladakh. We are working on plans that include e-cycles and electric vehicles, which are more environmentally friendly, and supporting farmers in adopting eco-friendly products.”

Gyalson urged residents to consider cycling as a mode of transportation to reduce carbon footprints and benefit from the associated health advantages.

He also addressed the council's plans to establish dedicated cycle tracks in Leh, acknowledging past discussions around the need for such infrastructure. "When planning future road construction, we are making it a priority to include cycle tracks," he noted. "Currently, the road from Saboo to Sindhu Ghat is being constructed with an integrated cycling track for the first time in Ladakh. In upcoming projects, we aim to focus on building both footpaths and cycling tracks."

Deputy Chairman Tsering Angchuk emphasized the threefold purpose of the e-cycle initiative: environmental sustainability, health improvement, and traffic management in Leh. "This year, we made more efforts to raise public awareness by making information and applications available online, allowing residents to review cycle models and prices directly,” he said. “We hope to increase participation next year, following up on our three core objectives."

He further explained that the e-cycle subsidy varies depending on the model, with over 100 e-cycles distributed this year under the LAHDC Leh scheme, totalling approximately 25 lakh rupees.