As a step towards promoting Non-Motorised Transportation and encouraging the usage of cycles, a total of 31 dedicated cycle track corridors have been proposed in different parts of the city.
This, apart from the 162 cycle tracks around Metro Rail stations providing access to nearby residential colonies and markets identified for immediate implementation.
The recommendations, to be implemented by the year 2021, form part of the Comprehensive Transportation Study taken up by Lea Associates on behalf of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority.
Population 2041
The study has taken into consideration the travel demand forecasts for the year 2041, by which time the population in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Area (HMA) is expected to touch the 190-lakh mark.
Some of the major corridors proposed for taking up the cycle track corridors include Masab Tank junction-Vijay Nagar Colony junction, Red Hills Road, Muslim Jung Bridge-Puranapul-Tapachabutra-Toli Masjid-Langar Houz, Motinagar-Borabanda, Allapur-Ayyappa Society, Srinagar Colony, Gaddiannaram Road and Nalgonda ‘X’ Roads-Dilsukhnagar-L.B. Nagar stretch.
Proposals
In fact, the CTS has advocated a Bicycle Master Plan for the Hyderabad Metropolitan Area given the sharp rise in the number of privately vehicle owned vehicle and consequent rise in pollution. Towards making the city bicycle-friendly, the report called for a wide network of cycle routes with required infrastructure and amenities.
Apart from ensuring exclusive right of way for bicycles and improving safety by segregating vehicles moving at different speeds, the Mater Plan envisage shade giving landscaping, provision of drinking water and resting station along the bicycle corridors.
Alarming rise
The estimates prepared by the consultants look at the private vehicle ownership here going up considerably from 16,74,399 in the year 2011 to almost 99,58,820 by 2041. This would mean a rise from 178 vehicles per 1,000 persons to 512 vehicles per 1,000 persons in the next three decades.
