India is the second largest producer of bicycles in the world after China. Also, the number of cyclists is very large.
Pune: The demand for bicycles has also increased after the importance of exercise among the citizens during the lockdown. But at present, there is a shortage of gear bicycles in Pune due to declining production. Bicycles are not available even after two months of asking companies. Bicycle dealers said that this was mainly due to the influx of bicycles and spare parts from China.
India is the second largest producer of bicycles in the world after China. Also, the number of cyclists is very high. Lockdown had the opposite effect. But with the gym closed during this period, many have begun to prefer bicycles. The need to increase physical fitness to fight corona has increased the importance of exercise among people and has also affected the demand for bicycles. But there is a situation where the sellers are not getting enough bicycles from the companies.
Pune is experiencing a shortage of mainly geared bicycles. Manufacturing companies are short of manpower. Goods from China have also been affected. So due to declining production, the sellers do not meet the bicycles on time. Some vendors have not been able to get the bicycles for a month or two. Before the lockdown, 100 to 125 bicycles of all types were being sold every day. This number is currently in the range of 50 to 60. Consumers are complaining that many vendors are not getting bicycles on demand.
I currently have a demand for gear bicycles from 30 to 40 customers. But in the last one or two months, not a single bicycle has been received. Spare parts, mainly from China, have declined. Manpower is not enough. Raw material prices have also gone up. As a result, production seems to have declined by more than 50 per cent.
- Baba Kulkarni, President Cycle Dealers Association
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