The Times of India: ‘Revive existing cycle tracks’

Even as the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is trying to develop a network of cycle tracks under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), cycle associations and activists feel that the PMC should first revive the existing ones which are lying in a sorry state.

Presently, cycle tracks run along Canal road and stretch towards Abhinav chowk, sections like SNDT college to Athavale chowk, Athavale chowk to Prabhat road, Deendayal hospital to Dnyaneshwar Paduka chowk, Dnyaneshwar Paduka chowk to Deep Bungalow chowk and Nilgiri society to Ganeshkhind road and Chaphekar colony, which are made out of interlocking blocks. “It’s not only about constructing a cycle track.

Its all about creating an atmosphere for people to use it,” activist Prashant Inamdar, who has been following developments of Canal road cycle track, said. Citing shortcomings like encroachments, engineering defects and lack of planning, Inamdar said the entry point of the cycle track on Canal road has been encroached by rickshaws.

“Children going to schools hardly use the track as the entry point is never open. It portrays a picture that the cycle tracks are hardly used,” he said. Dilip Sarda, president of Pune Cycle Pratishthan (PCP), agrees. “Even the one at Chapekar road is encroached upon.

During a survey with civic commissioner Pravinsinh Pardeshi, we made him aware of the situation,” he said. The grim story of cycle tracks has suddenly gained importance as the Union government has made cycle tracks mandatory in bus rapid transit system (BRTS) project under the JNNURM.

“Now it becomes mandatory for the civic body to include cycle tracks in their development projects. However, the recently done Karve road cycle track portrays a dismal picture. The cycle track and footpath are at the same level,” Inamdar said. Moreover, lack of proper engineering gives a tough time to cyclists.

“There are no ramps to climb the cycle tracks which are at a height of around one feet. How will a cyclist climb it?” Inamdar asked. Pardeshi, too, admitted that the cycle tracks were in bad shape. “There is no way they can be called decent cycle tracks. We will take care of them while taking up future projects,” Pardeshi, himself an avid cyclist, said.

Additional city engineer Vivek Kharwadkar said the cycle tracks will now be an integral part of developmental projects. “We will make sure they have state-of-the-art pattern with proper signages,” he said.