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AGARTALA, India: A dropout from an Indian school has built a motorcycle with a one-meter gap between driver and passenger to take home the importance of social distancing in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Partha Saha, 39, bought an old bicycle from a scrap metal dealer, removed the engine, and cut the machine in two before fixing a rod slightly longer than a meter to connect the wheels.
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Like countries around the world, the Indian government has imposed a national blockade. (Photo: AFP / Abhisek Saha)
“Now I can travel with my eight-year-old daughter while maintaining a safe distance,” he told AFP from Agartala, in the northeastern state of Tripura.
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Like other countries, the Indian government has imposed a national blockade and urged citizens to practice social distancing to stop the spread of the virus.
As of Thursday, India had reported 33,050 cases of COVID-19, with 1,074 deaths.
When the nation extended its blockade this month until at least May 3, Saha realized that the battle against the virus may not end soon.
He used his meager savings to build the vehicle, which he plans to use to transport his daughter to and from school once the restrictions are lifted.
“I didn’t want her to take the school bus as it would be full,” said Saha, who works in a television repair shop.
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Your new bike is battery powered and has a top speed of 40km / h.
Saha says it takes three hours to charge the battery, allowing the bike to travel 80 km.
“The cost to collect it once is about 10 rupees (13 cents),” he added.
The mechanic has already tested his invention on the streets, leaving viewers amazed at the design and praise of Kumar Deb, Tripura’s prime minister.
“Necessity is the mother of invention! I congratulate Partha Sahan … for making a unique motorcycle to raise awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Deb tweeted.
