BHOPAL: Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration seems to have forgotten the provision for cycle track in the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) Corridor.
There was provision for cycle track in the 24 kilometre-long BRTS Corridor. But now, the BMC administration is focussing on “Smart City cycle tracks” making investment of crores of rupees. This has raised eyebrows.
Bhopal BRTS was funded by the Central government under its flagship JNNURM.
Former Mayor and BJP leader Krishna Gaur said, “It is wastage of public money. The terrain of Bhopal is not fit for cycling. When I was the Mayor I had refused to accept the proposal. Now BMC administration is developing cycle tracks. I do not know why it is doing so?”
Former BMC chairman Kailash Mishra said, “There was provision for cycle tracks in the initial DPR prepared during former Mayor Sunil Sood’s tenure. Initially it the corridor was supposed to have a width of 18 meters. Later it was reduced to 16 metres and cycle track was sacrificed. The BMC administration intentionally killed the BRTS cycle track. There is no need for hi-tech cycle track.
There must be only asphalted track for routine cycling and it is more than sufficient.”
Citizen Forum’s Proloy Bagchi said, “A well-marked cycle track was supposed to be built along the 24-kilometer-long BRTS corridor. Now, the BMC administration is making smart city cycle tracks.
It is funny. When BMC administration is already having sufficient space for cycle track, why money is being wasted on new cycle tracks in the name of hi-tech tracks? “
BMC additional commissioner Harish Gupta said, “There was no provision for cycle track in BRTS Corridor. Now we are giving final touches to Smart city cycle track from RRL Trisection to Misrod. Wherever there is space along the BRTS Corridor, we will build cycle tracks” .
