Nagpur bags Rs1 cr prize in Cycle4India Challenge

Nagpur: After a series of disappointments in Smart City competitions, Nagpur has something to cheer. The city has got recognition in the Cycle4India Challenge organized by the Union urban affairs ministry.
The ministry has awarded 11 cities; Nagpur, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Kohima, New Town Kolkata and Surat, in the Cycle4India Challenge competition. These cities will get Rs1 crore each as incentive from the central government. Fourteen other cities have been recognized for their work. The Union urban ministry mentioned Nagpur as a shining example of listening to citizens at every stage of the process of popularizing cycling among the people.
Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari and municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B have congratulated the Smart City team for the achievement.
“Measures are being taken to make cycling a priority for an increasing number of citizens in the city,” said Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation Limited (NSSCDCL) CEO Buvaneshwari S.
A whopping 15,000 people responded to a survey by the city highlighting their barriers to cycling. These learnings shaped the city’s plans to improve cycling. The city administration went back to the people with its plans, and worked with Resident Welfare Associations to identify neighbourhoods to test out these plans.
NSSCDCL has also created an 18-kilometre dedicated bicycle track with the help of CSR funds, said head of environment department (Smart City) Pranita Umredkar. She also pointed out that bicycle riding in the city was growing and even municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B and several other senior officials come to NMC headquarters on bicycles.
So, when the city tested its first pilot, citizens actively participated and provided feedback. It now plans to build on these efforts to scale up cycling across the city.