120km cycle track planned across Kolkata – Times of India

Kolkata News
KOLKATA: 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 ban notwithstanding, one out of 10 vehicles on the road is a cycle. According to the KMDA study, dedicated tracks will lead to a huge population embracing it and creating a cycle culture. During lockdown, the cyclist count grew by 400% and nearly 85% cycle trips were less than km.
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.
“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.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/120km-cycle-track-planned-across-kolkata/articleshow/80336390.cms