Sambalpur: Anurag Pradhan, a class-X student of the Kendriya Vidyalaya in the Deogarh district, has invented a bicycle that runs on a battery.

People congratulated Anurag when he launched the bicycle on Sunday. After the test run of the bicycle, he said it would be charged completely once it covers 33km.

He took about one year to complete the project at a cost of Rs 15,000 after many tests and trials.

Anurag is Udaynath Pradhan's son, a science teacher of Sunamunda High School, in Tilaibani block of the district.

The idea came to his mind when he saw the functioning of moped.

"I asked myself why can't cycles be run that way," Anurag said.

He brought bike parts such as accelerator, LED light and horn from Maharashtra. He fitted a 12 volt battery, 24 volt gear motor, 250 watt motor controller in the cycle with proper balancing and removed the pedals.

"I want the bicycle to run manually if the battery gets discharged and I'm working on that. I will try to improve the system slowly," Anurag said.

Udainath said: "I observed that Anurag had a creative mind since childhood. Initially, I was against the project and I told him many times not to waste his time on this and concentrate on his studies. But his success makes me feel very proud."

"I feel as if I am riding a moped," said local resident Babi Nanda.