Cycling track between Bijwasan and Rezangla Chowk taken over by squatters

Gurgaon: Around two months after the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) demarcated a cycling track and a footpath on the road between Bijawasan and Rezangla Chowk, the tracks have been encroached upon by residents and shopkeepers, defeating the purpose of the non-motorised transport (NMT) infrastructure.
When TOI visited the spot, it found vehicles parked inside the track and at some places shops have come up after breaking the separating blocks. GMDA chief engineer MN Sharma could not be reached for a comment on the matter despite repeated attempts.
Encroachment and damage to the NMT tracks is a recurrent issue for the metropolitan authority and it negates the work done to encourage non-motorised transport. GMDA’s model cycle track on the road connecting its office and Subhash Chowk has also seen illegal parking despite multiple efforts by the authority to check such instances.
Sarika Panda, who is involved with GMDA on several NMT infrastructure projects, says that the illegal parking and encroachments can be only addressed through better design as it isn’t possible to monitor the tracks 24x7.
GMDA has also planned three NMT-friendly junctions on the same stretch as a part of the bigger project. As a part of the project, markings will be made on the junction with a pedestrian island that will allow the pedestrians to safely cross the road. The junctions will be redesigned as per guidelines of Indian Road Congress.
“The tracks are currently being made on the edge of the road which makes it easier for vehicles to barge in. We need to have a buffer area on the edge of the road and then make the cycling track so that the vehicles cannot just enter the tracks,” said Panda.