Popularly dubbed as the “bicycle capital” of the country, Ludhiana accounts for 90% of the country’s cycle production and has a host of MSMEs involved in the trade. According to Invest Punjab, a portal established in 2013 by the Government of Punjab, Ludhiana accounts for approximately 10.5 million bicycles out of the 15 million bicycles produced in India each year.
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But it has not been an easy time for the industry reeling under the impact of competition from China, high GST and lack of safety standards. Industry experts say that while the cycle industry in Ludhiana has always boasted of impressive statistics, certain aspects are detrimental to growth and need immediate attention.
Harsimerjit Singh, Director of Lucky Group of Industries, and President of the United Cycles Parts and Manufacturers Association (UCPMA), says that the biggest problem is competition from China. “They have better technology. They got the tech transfer advantage from Taiwan which chose China to set up its factories. India has no such advantage. For us to be on a par with China, we need tech upgradation so that we are not dependent on them for imports,” he says.Alluding to how Ludhiana is making more of mid-sized cycles, Singh says that this is only due to a lack of tech advancement in the industry. “Be it in alloy frames, the kind of paints used, cycle lights — there are so many elements which will make it a bestseller to the upper segment. We should make products which not only can be sold here but also in the global markets,” he says.Singh adds that the government has to step in for support as well as introduce measures that enable growth of the domestic industry. “Neither the Centre nor the state has any focus on bicycles. There is talk of saving fuel. So there should be advertisements promoting the use of bicycles. During lockdown, there was a spike in demand. But today if someone wants to ride a bicycle, where can they do that with ease? It is unsafe and people would rather use a car than a cycle due to safety concerns,” he states. Holland, Singh points out, is known to have more bicycles than cars. The city is famously known as a cycling destination which has dedicated infrastructure for cyclists, with traffic lights and crossings especially done up for them.
iStockHolland is famously known as a cycling destination which has dedicated infrastructure for cyclists, with traffic lights and crossings especially done up for them.
That is what India should aim for, say industry stakeholders. They concur with Singh’s views saying that addressing certain concerns can also help change the mindset of the people.
KK Seth, Chairman of Seth Industrial Corporation which manufactures Neelam Cycles, says the rich and famous don’t believe in promoting cycles. “We have submitted proposals to the government that if any new road is being made, a separate lane for cycles should be a must. It is a far better vehicle for health and can contribute more effectively to the environment,” he states.
Among the other proposals they have sent is also to have a committee that can keep a check on rising steel prices.
Seth says that while they have a capacity to produce at least 5,000 cycles daily, they only make 2,500. “It is as per the demand. Till the time the thinking on riding bicycles does not change, it does not make sense to increase production,” he adds.
Giving the example of Holland, he highlights that riding a bicycle is a way of life for the people there and they feel proud of it. “Even the former UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, uses a cycle for fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Only we in India feel it is of lowly status. Unless our mindset does not change, things will always remain the same,” he adds.
