When the 2014 cycle track plan was proposed for HSR Layout, the cycle track width was more. But over the years, the roads in HSR also had as much more vehicular traffic. Therefore, the width of the cycle tracks are now reduced to provision more space for movement of vehicles.
Since road users are far more than those using cycles, the BBMP is now forced to ensure that the road width isn’t reduced to accommodate the cycle track. “Today, we cannot dedicate 2.5 metres to the cycle track,” said one senior official. “Therefore, we are now working out a compromise formula where we will be using half the footpath and about 1-1.8 metre of the road for the cycle track.”
Being a dream project for Bangalore, there have been many hurdles that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Department of Urban Land Transport (DULT) have faced in the last few years. “Many people are opposed to the cycle track because they feel that the roads are used more,” said one official, privy to the controversy surrounding it. The revised plan is awaiting approval from the Commissioner of DULT. Once approved, the cycle track will be functional in a month’s time, say BBMP officials.
One bill of the BBMP contractor who had done much of the drainage and tiling work for footpaths in HSR Layout is already cleared, and the other one will be cleared soon, according to another highly placed official in the BBMP.
