Mumbai: Cycle on track next to Tansa pipeline — Phase II kicks off

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to fork out as much as Rs 119 crore on the second phase of the construction of a cycling and jogging track alongside the Tansa lake pipeline between Santacruz and Mahim, and a portion of the eastern suburbs including Ghatkopar, Parel and Sewri. It will be constructed on the available open space along the Tansa pipeline after encroachments have been cleared, as directed by the Bombay High Court.

The BMC has picked the company Skyway Infraprojects to work on the second phase. The contract involves designing and laying the 12-km long bicycle track, a 3.8-km service road, beautification, tree plantation, retaining walls and stormwater drains and maintenance. The project will cost Rs 119 crore and the contract is valid for 18 months. A proposal of the said contract will be tabled before the standing committee on Wednesday.

Of the total project cost of nearly Rs 120 crore, almost Rs 10 crore will be spent per kilometre on the construction of cycle and jogging track.  In the first phase, the BMC had undertaken construction of a 14-km long bicycle track from Mulund to Sahar Road at a cost of Rs 161 crore. The civic body has been carrying out major demolition drives to remove illegal encroachments alongside the Tansa pipeline, in this case, about 16,000 of them. To ensure the success of their massive clearance drive, the BMC came up with the idea of this project.