Guwahati, 02 October (HS): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday announced that bamboo bicycles will soon be introduced at various parks in Guwahati for public trials ahead of their formal launch.

In a post on X, Sarma said the bicycle has a frame made entirely of bamboo and has received certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

“Wanna know what I'm riding? It's a Bamboo Bicycle,” Sarma said, adding that residents of Guwahati would soon get an opportunity to ride the bicycles and provide feedback on their performance and design.

The Chief Minister also underlined the broader possibilities of bamboo, a resource widely available in Assam. According to him, bamboo has more than 800 byproducts and can find applications in diverse sectors, including methanol, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and reinforced structures.

Sarma credited a policy change introduced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for opening up greater opportunities in the bamboo sector. The change classified bamboo as grass, thereby altering the legal framework governing its cultivation and use.

The proposed public trials in Guwahati are expected to help gather user feedback before the bamboo bicycles are formally launched.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash