Gurugram’s cycling tracks overrun by encroachments, garbage

GURUGRAM: While the city’s infrastructure has never been cycling or pedestrian-friendly, some of the existing tracks are not only inadequate, but also unsafe.
In 2017, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had built the cycle tracks on the side of the highways from Signature Towers to Rajiv Chowk to IFFCO Chowk.
In the absence of bollards or barriers, encroachments by cab drivers, autorickshaw drivers, food vendors and mechanic shops are a common sight.
Most of the cyclists are unaware about the existence of reserved cycling tracks. Adding insult to injury are cab drivers who park their vehicles on these tracks from 9am until 8pm.
Payal Jaggi, a resident of DLF-5 who usually walks or cycles to work along with some other women, has been agitated since she faces constant harassment on her 1.2km route from Paras hospital to One Horizon Centre.
“The cab drivers who do not want to pay for parking, reserve spots on the cycling tracks. Staring, whistling and lechering is a part of their routine activity. Earlier I used to usually cycle to work, but from the past six past months I have not been able to do so. I have raised complaints to the MCG, traffic police and also Swachh Bharat portal. The portal had the audacity to send me a message that the stretch had been cleaned when it wasn’t. I tried raising the complaint again, but I have not been able to log in. Also, both MCG and DLF say the stretch does not come under their jurisdiction,” added a visibly rattled Payal, who runs a café near One Horizon Centre.
Apart from being encroached, the roadsides and cycle tracks are piled up with garbage. “It’s embarrassing to see how nobody takes the responsibility of maintaining these roads. Moreover, strays litter the entire place and also dig up holes, thus destroying the path,” said a commuter, Mithilesh Prakash.
The cyclists are usually at the receiving end during peak hours. “Firstly, there are not much cycling tracks in the city and those existing are encroached upon by bigger vehicles. It seems as if cyclists are the least important commuter on the road. This mindset needs to change,” said Suresh Tripathi, an avid cyclist.
TOI tried to reach MCG and NHAI officials for their comments on the issue, but both remained unavailable.