This e-commerce website delivers orders on cycle in hope of a greener world

Amazon, the leading e-commerce company in India, has decided to run a pilot programme in the hope of a greener environment. It would ask its delivery boys to use cycles to deliver packages in India's biggest cities over distances of 3-5 km.

The programme was started in Mumbai last month and has now been expanded to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi and Chennai. Under next phases, the programme would be extended to more cities.

"Being conscious of the environment we live in, reducing carbon footprint is the need of the hour," Samuel Thomas, transportation director at Amazon India told ET. "We have taken this eco-friendly step by introducing bicycle deliveries, which also helps delivery associates with easier access in congested metro cities."

The delivery team would ride geared bikes to carry packages of up to 7.5 kg per trip.

However, people aware of compensation levels told ET that under this programme, a bicycle messenger could earn only about Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,500 a month, which is very less as compared to what motorcycle messengers earn, which counts up to Rs 14,000 a month.

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