BMC to transform 40 km long stretch across Tansa water pipeline into cycle corridor

The BMC is planning to launch an ambitious project of converting a 40 km long stretch along the Tansa water pipelines into a dedicated cycling corridor. Pallavi Doke from Envirodesigners (who are providing the design for this track) and BMC’s assistant engineer Nitin Shukla spoke about the project at the 9th meeting of Cycle Katta - a platform created by a few cycling buffs in 2015. The meet took place in the physics department of DG Ruparel College, Matunga. 

The proposed cycling track will run along the pipelines which will start in Mulund and fork into two branches at JVLR to run through Kurla, Bandra, Mahim and Antop Hill. The main objective of the project is to save water pipelines, create biodiversity corridor along the pipeline, connect Mumbai in shortest direction, more cycle tracks and pedestrian walkways and passive recreation spaces.

Pilot project 
Meanwhile, the BMC will bring in pilot project which will come up in two places  
• Mulund - 1.3 km
• Mithi campus to Maroshi - 2 km  

This project came in the wake of an order given by the High Court to BMC in 2009 to protect a 10m wide corridor on either side of a pipeline.

The BMC then decided to bring in a cycle track rather than to load the road with more vehicles.

The 40 km stretch will have 40 entry and exit points and the user will get the smart card for the same. Along with this, there will be bio-toilets and service kiosks on the way. Apart from this, there will be CCTV network for the security purpose. Other than this, we will have to populate the road to make it secure,” Pallavi Doke, head, Envirodesigners.

BMC will be setting up permanent and temporary exhibits across the 40 km stretch. Along with this, there will be different types of routes such as ‘Mumbai Books’ route and ‘Bollywood Walk’ route to attract tourists.

No definite deadline
Doke and Shukla unanimously agreed that the real challenge for the BMC will be to do away with the encroachments which can take months or years. However, they will try their best to bring in the project as soon as possible for Mumbaikars.

BMC will entertain suggestions
Cyclists across the city can write to these email addresses -sewwcivilmaint@gmail.com and cyclekatta@gmail.com with their suggestions and queries about the project.