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Mumbai’s Sunday Cycle lanes kept in abeyance

The exclusive cycling track from the NCPA to Worli Sea Link, has remained closed for the last two Sundays and are on the verge of being shelved just a month after its inauguration

Mumbai’s Sunday Cycle lanes kept in abeyance
SHARES

Cycling on main roads was a distant dream until December 3 when the Sunday cycle tracks were inaugurated. However, it seems that the plan was shelved several times for the last two weeks, the exclusive tracks have not been accessible to the cyclists.


What’s the story?

The two-way cycling track along the 22-km stretch from National Center of Performing Arts, Nariman Point to Worli Sea Link was opened on December 3, every Sunday between 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM and was to be functioned on a pilot basis for three months. 

The route covered NCPA, Marine Drive, Babulnath, Pedder Road, Annie Besant Road, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan Marg up to the Sea Link. The project was the brainchild of Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray.


What went wrong?

Since its inauguration, the Sunday cycle tracks have been out-of-bounds for the cyclists on at least two Sundays. The first time when it was done away with was on New Year’s Eve, a fortnight ago and the second, yesterday due to a ‘VIP movement’ as the President was in the city. The cycling track will continue to remain closed this Sunday as well due to the marathon.

On both occasions of cancellations, the cyclists were informed on the last-minute.


The Cyclists’ Woes

Apart from cancellations, the route itself has not been fully operational. Due to some events and obstructions on the way, the track is unable to be kept functional consistently. Many cyclists who travelled all the way from the suburbs to South Mumbai for participating in the event and spending time outdoors went back, disappointed. They are hopeful that the stakeholders - the BMC - and the traffic police will join in soon and resolve the issue.


The Blame Game

The BMC officials said that the traffic police have been raising objections and denying permissions for the weekend event. They claim that they’ve done their bit and ensured the event organisers were provided all the help.  

The organisers affirmed that they would take the matter to the cops to make sure the track remains open this Sunday and now it’s up to the traffic police. 

A senior BMC official admitted there are hurdles and said that the event organisers can put up banners along the path as per the BMC work order to which the cops have raised an objection. 


The Cops Comeback

Denying any such problem, Joint Commissioner of Police (traffic) Amitesh Kumar laid the blame on the cone-shape barricades installed to separate the track from the road. He said that these lightweight barricades cannot withstand even the slightest breeze and come in the way of cyclists, posing a risk. He informed that they have asked the organisers to come up with better barricades.

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