Cycle tracks being constructed from Chandni Chowk to HEMRL are unplanned, claim Bavdhan residents

By: Pune Pulse

December 30, 2023

Residents of Bavdhan have problems with the cycle tracks being erected from Chandni Chowk to HEMRL as they claim that these cycle tracks are not planned properly.

Speaking to Pune Pulse, Anand Thakoor, a resident of Bavdhan said, “What the PMC has done is they have constructed the cycle tracks in between the parking space & the main road with the parking space inside. Due to this, the cyclists will face nuisance as any vehicle which wants to park in the parking space will have to enter the cycle track to go to the parking space. The PMC must first consult & then build the cycle tracks as now the damage has already been done as half the job is done. We had brought this to the PMC’s notice just when the tracks began construction but the PMC said that the plan is already made now & work started.”

Ganesh Baliga, another resident of Bavdhan said, “Cycle tracks must be on the inner parts of the footpaths where other vehicles, apart from cycles, should not be able to enter. The cycle tracks are being constructed just next to the main road. So, what will happen is the motorists will use the cycle tracks to park their vehicles. Also, cycle tracks must be very long as the current one might be barely 1 km long. At least the cycle tracks must be 5 km long. Hence, the cycle track construction must have been properly planned.”

CS Krishnan, Core Member, Bavdhan Citizens’ Forum said, “Kindly stop the present plan of keeping the cycle tracks towards the roadside. Let it be next to the footpath. You are dealing with people who don’t use common sense while driving. Dangerous to kids and cyclists. Please stop wasting money to construct death traps for cyclists. Let the cycle track be next to the footpath and not next to the road. If place is a constraint, don’t make the cycle track. Present design will lead to frequent accidents for children.”

As per information from a letter by CS Krishnan addressed to the PMC read, “Between Lane 4 opposite Maharashtra Bank to Lane 6 near More Supermarket, PMC is constructing next to the footpath, passage for cables followed by area for car parking and finally the cycle track adjacent to the main road.”

It further read, “I do not know who authorized this Suicide Plan. Cyclists especially children will avoid using this path due to the risk of being hit by vehicles either passing by or vehicles reversing from their parking area. Right from Chandni Chowk to HEMRL, there is a gradual slope where vehicles tend to drive fast as no speed beaker or rumblers have been provided.” 

The letter further states “Secondly, the size of the car parking is shorter than the length of the vehicle, which results in the car blocking the cycle track. Kindly provide a cycle track next to the footpath and then the car park which will have direct entry to the main road without disturbing the cyclists.”

Abhijit Dombe, Executive Engineer, PMC Road Department said, “The cycle tracks are getting constructed with proper planning.”

Shreyas Vange