Mumbai becomes bicycle-friendly: BMC to construct cycling tracks along Tansa pipeline

Mumbai city news: Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta has asked officials to work on phase-wise plan which can be implemented by 2019.

In a first-of-its-kind experiment, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to provide cycling/jogging tracks along the Tansa-pipeline from suburban Mulund till Antop-Hill in Wadala.

Picture for representation

BMC will get 10-meter space along the century-old pipeline. The civic body is currently demolishing illegal encroachments following the Bombay High Court’s (HC) 2009-order.

Officials said that BMC will have to leave some space for pipeline-inspection, alongside which it will develop the space owing to lack of such facilities in the crowded-city.

Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta has asked officials to work on phase-wise plan which can be implemented by 2019.

Speaking to HT, Mehta confirmed the plan and said, “Once the encroachments have been removed, we will not allow any construction in the area and work on a phase-wise implementation.”

Officials said demolition is still being undertaken in the N ward (Ghatkopar and Vidyavihar areas).

BMC has received flak from the HC for not being able to protect the main water-supply pipeline from slum encroachments. In an earlier survey, BMC had identified more than 15,000 structures along the pipeline.

BMC has been working on creating pedestrain/cycling infrastructure across the city. In his budget speech, Mehta had also announced creating a cycling and pedestrian track from the Bandra fort till the Worli Sea Link as part of its overall beautification plan for forts.