GHMC pushes its pedals to achieve ‘cycle-friendly’ city tag for Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The GHMC, which had planned to build permanent and temporary cycling tracks, is engaging a Bengaluru-based consultant to achieve the ‘cycle-friendly city’ tag for Hyderabad as the city gets crowded with an increasing number of motorised vehicles.

The state government has been actively pursuing efforts to encourage cycling because cycles can substitute for driving in urban settings, at least for short trips. A senior GHMC told Deccan Chronicle that with the instructions of the state government, the corporation is closely working with the Bengaluru-based consultant in order to get international recognition for the city.

He claimed that the corporation has devised a three-year comprehensive plan that will be submitted to an international agency in order to achieve the ‘cycle-friendly’ tag.

In order to accomplish this goal, the GHMC planned to construct permanent and artificial cycling tracks in October of last year, and prepared prototypes to execute the projects. The plans, however, did not materialise since owing to numerous challenges in carrying out the projects.

The GHMC has been grappling with challenges including availability of right of way, heavy traffic volumes at the proposed locations of cycle tracks, and a lack of cooperation from other nodal authorities.

A few of the locations where permanent tracks will be built include a 3 km track from Habsiguda crossroads to Uppal crossroads, a four-kilometre track from Bairamalguda crossroads to Owaisi Junction, and another four-kilometre track from Aramghar to Owaisi Junction.

In addition, the GHMC will construct a temporary cycling track of six kilometres around KBR Park, a six-kilometre permanent and temporary track through Biodiversity from Ikea to Raidurg, and a 10-km track from IDL Lake to JNTU that includes a track from Rainbow Vista to IDL Lake.

Additionally, there are plans to set up a 2.25-km cycle track from Khajaguda to Nanakramguda, a 450-metre track from Rolling Hills to AIG Hospitals, and a two-km track from Biodiversity Junction to Leather Park. Along with the cycle tracks, pavements are being constructed and saplings are being planted in a number of sites.

Upcoming cycle tracks

> Habsiguda crossroads to Uppal crossroads (3-km)

> Bairamalguda crossroads to Owaisi Junction (4-km)

> Aramghar to Owaisi Junction (4km)

> Temporary track at KBR Park (6km)

> Permanent and temporary track at Biodiversity from IKEA to Raidurg (6km)

> IDL Lake to JNTU, including a track from Rainbow Vista to IDL Lake (10-km)

> Khajaguda to Nanakramguda (2.25-km)

> Rolling Hills to AIG Hospitals (450-metre)

> Biodiversity Junction to Leather Park (2-km)