The Times of India              06.12.2010

Footpath, cycling projects in bad shape

PUNE: Footpaths and cycle tracks do not seem to be on the priority list of the Pune Municipal Corporation.

Even as the corporation busies itself preparing for next year's budget, it is imperative to note that the progress in construction of footpaths and cycle tracks, as planned ten months ago in the draft budget for 2010-11, has been poor.

A survey conducted by Parisar, a city-based environment organisation, has revealed that of the 63 non-motorised transport (NMT) works inspected by it, only 19 have been completed so far. Total 99 NMT projects were listed in the PMC's budget this year. The survey found that 25 projects are yet to start. The situation of cycling projects is worse. Of the seven projects, the PMC has started work on just one.

"Going by the present situation, it is not surprising that pedestrians and cyclists are increasingly endangered in the city. About 160 pedestrians were killed in the city last year when the PMC had set an ambitious goal of having 50 per cent of all commutation by foot or by cycle with zero fatalities," said Sujit Patwardhan, a trustee of Parisar. He said that if Pune is to become a NMT-friendly city, the PMC must first revitalise the currently defunct NMT cell and empower it with sufficient capacity and authority. Patwardhan suggested that the PMC should also initiate an exercise to adopt detailed street design guidelines that promote pedestrian and cycling tracks, as done by Delhi recently.

The PMC this year had allocated Rs 54.3 crore for NMT projects, of which a major chunk, i.e. Rs 53 crore, has been allocated for footpaths. The remaining Rs 1.3 crore has been allocated for cycle tracks. Parisar said that with every passing year, the allocation for NMT projects is getting thinner. As of now, it is just seven per cent of the total 814 crore marked for capital intensive works in the transport sector.

PMC additional city engineer Vivek Kharwadkar, who is in-charge of the NMT cell, did not respond to phone calls made by this journalist on Wednesday. PMC's chief traffic planner and additional city engineer Shriniwas Bonala said he would not comment as he was not in-charge of the NMT cell.