Umair Inamdar, sectional engineer with national highways division of state PWD, told TOI that the construction of the cycling track has begun without narrowing the existing road width and also by keeping footpaths intact for pedestrians.
The ₹76.01 crore project is part of the four-lane cement-concrete road upgrade from Variety Square to Bole Petrol Pump Square and University Campus Square to Wadi on Nagpur-Amravati Road of NH-53.
The renovation work of Amravati Road, from Variety Square to Wadi, is being undertaken in two phases. The first phase comprises 1.44km, from Variety Square to Bole Petrol Pump Square. The width of the carriageway is 20 metres. Cycling tracks are being constructed on either side of the road with mastic asphalt. Work on the first phase of the project has already begun. Similar work has already commenced on the second section, which is 3.45km.
“The deadline for the completion of the project is May 10, 2024,” said Inamdar.
Cycling buff Darshansingh Chhatre was all praise for the PWD. “It’s a good initiative for promoting green transport in Nagpur, especially on the busy Amravati Road,” said
Chhatre, adding, “The PWD should ensure that the track is encroachment-free.
Going by the past experience, Chhatre said that such dedicated tracks were either encroached upon, mostly for parking vehicles, or were not well maintained.
Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation (NSSCDCL) too had constructed cycling tracks spread across 18 kilometres but the purpose did not meet the desired fate. Furthermore, despite getting the ₹1 crore Cycle4India Challenge Award from the ministry of urban affairs for encouraging cycling, the momentum could not be sustained. TOI had reported about the misuse of dedicated tracks, either for parking vehicles or encroachment by hawkers.
“The width of the road should not be reduced even an inch for the construction of the cycling track. Motorists must be given priority over cyclists because of the increasing traffic in the city,” pointed out citizen Rohit Deshpande.
“The track should be cycling friendly. Factors like chambers, elevations and bumps should not be a hurdle. If cyclists do not use the track because it is inconvenient, encroachers will be quick to take advantage of the situation. This should not happen,” added Deshpande.