As the days coming nearer for the Assembly Poll dates to be announced the ruling Trinamool in the state is also coming up with various projects, schemes, and poll-lollipops. The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) has drafted a cycle mobility masterplan that has charted out the possibility of a dedicated corridor criss-crossing the city. Covering 14 major roads and aggregating 120km in length, the 2m-wide tracks will connect 114 wards.

Based on surveys carried out during the lockdown, and unlock thereafter, by a Delhi-based agency engaged by KMDA, the blueprint has the potential to alter the dynamics of mobility in the city. But it also faces pragmatic issues on safety that Kolkata Police have raised and has made the argument to ban cycling on 64 roads. Cyclists, though, have questioned the ban on a non-motorized and eco-friendly mode of transport.

The survey took into account the road width, median, pavement, tram line, bus stop, street light, major attractions, transit nodes and land-use pattern to chart out five north-south corridors totalling 76.3km and nine east-west corridors totalling 44.4km. Significantly, at least a 7.5m motor-vehicle carriageway, 2m pavement and 2m cycle track will be maintained. However, roadside car parking will need to be done away with on these stretches.

Nothing will happen. Ultimately unscrupulous vendors will take up the cycle track forcing the cyclist to come to the main carriage way. this will lead to much more accidents as well as lower traffic speed.

“The idea is to cover all major transit nodes without conflict with motorized transport,” said a KMDA official at a sustainable urban mobility consultation organized by SwitchON Foundation.

Urban mobility expert and Centre for Science and Environment executive director Anumita Roychowdhury has called the cycle an essential component of the resilient transport system and said this mode is important to prevent Kolkata’s roads from getting choked by motorized vehicles.

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