Date : 13-08-2016
Madikeri: A youth from the Kodagu region has given a classic example for youth creativity with his ‘Make in India’ adventurous vehicle which helps one go karting in estates and plantations. The other innovative product which is a mini bike, allows one to explore remote locations aiding tourism in the hilly district. Interestingly, both versions are user friendly and environmental friendly too.
It took 8 months for the young lad Neerkaje J Akash from Biligeri village near Madikeri to design and develop ‘go kart’. Internationally, it is used in sporting activities for specific purposes like for providing beverages on a cricketing arena, to carry maintenance team and associated hardware on racing tracks. The youth with his innovative technique has made certain improvements in the design to use it for agricultural activities and the versions available are 3 feet and 4.5 feet wide. The kart allows in shipping the yield like ripe coffee beans or oranges during harvest time. With labour force unavailable for agricultural activities in the recent past, many find ‘go kart’ extremely useful.
Praksash is the son of NM Kumar and Gayathri and grandson of well known litterateur N.Mahableshwar Bhat. While studying at a polytechnic in Mangaluru, he designed an automatic wiper system in science model making competition there by showing his creative skills.
Prakash worked in a few companies but did not stick to a routine job which would possibly curb his creative instinct. He had a lot of craze for cars from childhood and dreamt of developing a unique product on his own. The drive within himself helped him to attain his dream where he combined financial resources, patience and time to roll out an interesting and useful end product called ‘go kart’ costing around a lakh.
The newly designed product has 160cc engine with a 5.5 hp motor, mechanical steering system and few imported components from USA. According to the product designer, ‘go kart’ would help in shipping ripe coffee beans from inaccessible areas of coffee plantations to the drying ground for further processing if a trailer is attached at a minimal cost saving time and energy. Its engine would also aid in spraying pesticides on pepper creepers to protect expensive spices at growth stages from pest attacks. In addition it can take visitors and tourist on an estate ride. Designer Prakash is elated with the way the end product has turned to be user friendly and resourceful.
Mini bike is an add-on invention
Mini bike as the word goes is a user friendly bike which can be handled by anybody including little children and can be carried in a larger vehicle when one visits exciting tourist locales. In hilly terrains, riding the bike can be an exhilarating experience, feels Prakash. It took just 10 days for the maker to place the bike from the design table on the road to zip. Amazing feat!
Young Prakash is following the footsteps of Father NM Kumar’s family which has a lineage of achievers to create an impact with his creativity. He wants to fine-tune his product design and plans to market the product extensively in the future. Prakash’s well-wishers remain confident that the young lad will create waves in the field dominated by foreign manufacturers as his final product passes severe test conditions in the hilly terrain of the district in the beginning itself.
Go karting as well as mini biking can be an exciting experience for all who like the concept! Worth trying out, isn’t it?
