Qualcomm Techie Cycles 12 km From Narsingi to HITEC City to Cut Carbon Footprint

Thirty-seven-year-old Qualcomm techie Sibananda Patro regularly commutes 12 kilometres each way on a bicycle from his home in Narsingi to his office in HITEC City. Patro chose to pedal to work as a conscious effort to reduce his carbon footprint, maintain fitness, and avoid heavy vehicular traffic across Hyderabad's IT corridor.

Patro's journey toward sustainable living began during a volunteer drive focused on tree plantation and clean-ups. While volunteering, he discovered years-old plastic waste—including cups, straws, carry bags, and wrappers—buried virtually unchanged beneath the soil. The experience highlighted the long-lasting environmental impact of daily habits.

In 2014, Patro started swapping short motor vehicle journeys for bicycle rides. Today, whenever possible, he pedals the full 12-kilometre stretch to his office in HITEC City.

According to Patro, driving a car through traffic takes around 40 minutes, while riding a motorbike takes about 30 minutes. Cycling requires roughly the same amount of time as a motorbike, and can take even less time when road traffic is lighter.