Cycle tracks to come up near CW Games venues

Undaunted by the gross under-utilization of the cycle tracks on the pilot BRT stretch between Ambedkar Nagar and Moolchand, the state government will now create cycle tracks within a 2 Km radius of all Commonwealth Games venues. Unlike in BRT however, this time the road space will not be reduced, public works department and MCD will instead take over parts of the pavement for the purpose.

The Rs 338 crore project which includes street-scaping and beautification will be carried out on roads like the Ring Road from ITO flyover to Ashram and IP Marg, East Velodrome Road, Velodrome Road, Kisan Ghat Road upto Ash Pond and Ring Road from Rajghat to ITO flyover, I P Marg beyond ITO flyover, roads around Games Village and Yamuna Sports Complex, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, Mall Road from Delhi University to Chhatrasal Stadium, Bhairon Road and Siri Fort Road.

The total cost of works to be undertaken by the public works department is Rs 260 crore while MCD is expected to spend about Rs 78 crore on its roads. PWD minister Rajkumar Chauhan said: "The idea is to carve out cycle tracks from the footpath. At present it is largely for recreational purposes after all cycling does improve one's health but this is just a beginning. Once the tracks are created all across the city, cycles can become a viable mode of transport too.''

Among the other things in the street-scaping initiative will be improvements in the central verge, signage and affecting a uniformity of lanes.