HMDA partially demolish Kokapet solar rooftop cycle track; cyclists worry
The decision follows the completion of a thorough traffic study by the Cyberabad Traffic Police
By Newsmeter Network Published on 17 Dec 2024 4:42 PM IST
HMDA partially demolished some portions of the solar rooftop cycle track at Kokapet
Hyderabad: To improve connectivity and alleviate daily traffic jams at the Nanakramguda Rotary, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has partially demolished some portions of the solar rooftop cycle track at Kokapet.
The decision follows the completion of a thorough traffic study by the Cyberabad Traffic Police, which identified the area’s main traffic bottlenecks in cooperation with field officers and drones. The removal of the bicycle track’s section has raised concerns among cycling enthusiasts.
The 23-kilometre cycle track with two sections along the ORR was officially inaugurated during the BRS government tenure in October 2023. The first section covers a distance of 8.5 kilometers, stretching from TGPA to Nanakramguda and the second stretch, spanning 14.5 kilometres, extends from Narsingi to Kollur.
Traffic jam on route from Gachibowli to My Home
Speaking to NewsMeter, Cyberabad Traffic DCP Joel Davis explained, “The department with the help of field officers and drones has studied the areas around Nanakramguda Rotary. The traffic going from Gachibowli towards My Home and Narsingi converges at the HGCL office, resulting in a traffic jam daily.
Around 50 per cent of traffic jams are around HGCL and then commuters take a roundabout towards Narsingi. Based on a study, it was decided to build/create a down ramp after Nakaramguda so that people need not wait for the signal or take a roundabout turn. This (small ramp) will also benefit traffic from Khajaguda. It is to note that only a part of the bicycle ramp is being removed to accommodate the ramp for the benefit of commuters.”
‘80 metres of the solar roof will be removed
‘Bicycle Mayor’ Santhana Selvan told NewsMeter that an update from officials is that ‘80 metres of solar roof will be removed to provide a down ramp from Nanakramguda to Narsingi for free flow traffic from Gachibowli as per the request of the Joint Commissioner of Police, Cyberabad. The cycle track will be intact without a roof in the 80-metre stretch. We also heard that the bollards will be arranged in the intersection for the track and also speed breakers will be arranged for vehicles while entering and exiting the intersection.’
Encroachment into cycling infrastructure
Selvan further said that this might sound like a small thing, but ‘this is a clear minor encroachment of Motorists into the Cycling and Non-Motorized Infrastructure.’ “Did we also think of any other alternate measures to reduce the traffic? Already, there is so much struggle to get such NMT infra in any of our cities in our country. Minimizing that is slightly concerning for the community,” he said.
“This is definitely a small change and this might not even affect cyclists today and we might forget about the fact that this intersection was newly and recently introduced. But, eventually, I am afraid that our own traffic can become massive in the coming months or years with vehicles increasing every day in our cities and eating up some more of our cycling infrastructure. Something to be cautious about,” he added.
Selvan made a couple of requests to the decision-makers concerned:
1) To think of alternate solutions, instead of negatively impacting cycling infrastructure. We could probably think of reducing the number of vehicles on this route and any other related Active Mobility policies could be introduced/passed, instead of reducing Cycling Infrastructure.
2) Why are such decisions made to dismantle the ‘First in India, World Famous, Second in the world infrastructure’, even if it a minor one? Shouldn't the cycling community be consulted? Or shouldn’t the public’s opinion be asked for through the press or social media?
3) In addition to this or as compensation, is there anyone thinking of expanding the cycling track to more length or connecting to nearby commercial or residential spaces to upgrade the track from a recreational aspect to that of the commute route? For example, if we add up 2 to 3 km of just Cycling Track from Nanakramguda to Wipro Circle, many more will start using the track for commuting purposes. This is probably a good replacement or a compensation strategy for this negative impact on the cycling track.
