Pune cycle plan gets the green signal

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) general body (GB) on Thursday gave its nod for the cycle plan amidst chaos at the meeting hall. With the opposition members creating ruckus, members of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cleared the proposal without any discussion.

PMC had prepared the Rs 300 crores, which can go up to Rs 500 crores, cycle plan and placed it before the GB for approval. While all the political parties were in favour of the cycle plan, opposition raised objection stating that the municipal commissioner gave the presentation of the proposal only to BJP members.

Under the plan, PMC has proposed a cycle network plan of approximately 470-km of segregated cycle tracks. The plan proposes to construct cycle tracks of asphalt, followed by concrete as the most preferred surface material for cyclists. It has been proposed that different colours can be used for cycle tracks and cycle lanes. Following the examples of Netherlands, Belgium and some other countries, cycle tracks painted in red have been proposed for Pune.

As corporators tried to adjourn the GB meeting, BJP that has earlier planned to call for voting decided to approve the proposal without allowing any discussion.

Mayor Mukta Tilak and standing committee members said that they had appealed to the opposition parties to hold discussions and give suggestions as the project is important for the city. With the opposition parties in no mood to relent, BJP approved the plan.

PMC opposition leader Chetan Tupe and Congress leader Arvind Shinde said that they were in favour of the cycle plan but wanted to raise some issues about it before the elected members. Shinde said that before getting the GB approval, municipal commissioner has already kept the expression of interest ready for the public cycle sharing system and even identified the companies.

Plan for pedallers

Preliminary report states the budget required for cycle plan is in between Rs300 and Rs500 crore. PMC has proposed cycle network for 470 Km in the city. New cycle plan to retrofit the existing 100 km unused and old cycle network. PMC would make budget provision for new cycle plan every year.

Challenges

The Pune cycle plan will face a major challenge from the 24x7 water project in the city for which almost all the major roads are going to be dug up in the coming days. PMC would almost dig 1,700 kms of road for the water scheme. Implementing the cycle track project would mean good coordination with the water department so that the same roads are not dug again.