Thiruvananthapuram: If everything goes as planned, the capital city will have an exclusive cycle track. The district development committee, in its next meeting scheduled to be held on Thursday, will discuss on developing the
Pipeline Road from city to
Aruvikkara as an exclusive
cycle track and
walkway.
Pipeline Road, the unpaved road constructed to lay huge transmission pipeline of Kerala Water Authority (KWA) in 1933, connects Vellayambalam in the city to Aruvikkara. However, there are several intersections in the stretch from Vellayambalam to Peroorkkada. The cycle track is planned on the remaining 12 km stretch from Peroorkkada to Aruvikkara.
Sources said that local self-government department has begun preliminary discussions on the proposal. However, it is yet to approach KWA. The plan is to lay tiles on either side of the road from Peroorkkada to Aruvikkara so that it could be used as a walkway as well as a cycle track.
Cycle enthusiasts in the city are on cloud nine over the proposal. Praveen R, vice-president of Trivandrum Bikers Club, said that this would be a first-of-its-kind for the city and would be of great help to cyclists. “Aruvikkara being a tourist spot, cycling through the stretch can be a fun ride as well. Now we don’t have any space for the cyclists. If someone wishes to learn cycling or roller skating, there is no proper space. Once developed, it has the potential to be a hub of cycle lovers. The authorities must ensure that no other vehicles are allowed on the stretch,” he said.
Currently, heavy vehicles are not allowed on the road to prevent damage to pipes underneath. Around three major transmission lines and various distribution lines are laid at 1m depth under the road.
Though KWA is yet to be approached for the project, officials in KWA said that the proposal would be a win-win situation for LSGD and KWA. “A major part of the road is encroached upon by private parties. We have approached district administration several times in the past but in vain. Recently, the district administration has informed us to find the fund for conducting the survey as it is short of funds. So, if there is such a proposal, a proper survey has to be conducted to clear all encroachments from the road. We cannot fence the available land as it will give legitimacy for the encroachers who already occupied the land,” said an official.
