Urban News

Hindustan Times  03.12.2010

The city will get its first dedicated cycling track at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) by March 2011. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is constructing the 12km track at a cost of Rs 6 crore. "We will complete the project by March 2011. The dedicated cycling track will ensure usage of bicycles which are energy saving transportation medium," said SVR Srinivas, additional metropolitan commissioner.

The MMRDA had come up with the idea of creating dedicated cycling lane at BKC last year and appointed consultants to conduct survey of internal roads. Based on the findings of the survey, MMRDA decided to set up a dedicated lane using removable barricades.

The cycling track will be next to the footpaths and will move along the internal roads of BKC. The MMRDA said it would also provide space to park bicycles.

"We are expecting large number of people to use the tracks. The diamond bourse is also opening up which will bring more people to BKC," Srinivas said.

The authority is also planning to create awareness for usage of bicycles.

The MMRDA has already made provisions for Rs 150 crore for improving the internal roads in the area. The money for the tracks would be spent from this corpus.

"It [cycling track] is a small initiative to promote environmentally friendly transportation system," Srinivas said.

Officials say, it is the right time to construct the dedicated cycling track as MMRDA is already developing BKC's infrastructure.

"It is imperative that such provisions are made at this time. If we decide to make this project 10 years down the line, the cost will increase manifold," Srinivas said.