This cycle track seems more of sleeping place

Ludhiana: In a city where cyclists struggle for space amid high-speed motor vehicles, a cycle track from Jawaddi bridge till Dugri bridge towards Model Town Extension road has gone unnoticed. With little awareness among cyclists, the track has become more of a footpath for pedestrians and a sleeping place for a few homeless people.
The construction of the cycle track had been undertaken as part of ‘Cycle for Change Challenge’ under the Smart City Mission. The civic officials, however, claimed that the project was completed recently and they would now make a formal announcement following the completion of Sidhwan Canal water front part 2 which is under construction on the other side of the road.
The civic body had started the construction of 1.6-km-long cycle track last year in August. As part of ‘Cycle for Change Challenge’, the civic body had been organising cycle rallies in the city. Unaware about the cycle track, people could still be seen riding their bicycles on the main road.
Karamjit Singh, a resident of Pakhowal Road, said, “This small stretch of cycle track will not serve the purpose. We will not coming to this side of the city to just ride a bicycle. Rather, cycle tracks are required at other stretches where people could ride their cycles on any normal day.”
Deepak Sharma, another resident from Harnam Nagar, said the city which is known for the cycle industry has nothing to boast about cycling. When the roads are planned, the authorities need to keep designated cycle tracks but here planning part is entirely missing. He said the authorities should get rid of encroachments from the roads to make space for cyclists or cycle tracks.
Asked about the cycle track, MC superintending engineer Sanjay Kanwar said, “We are pushing the contractor to complete Sidhwan Canal water front phase 2 as early as possible after which this cycle track would be put to use too.”
Missing cycle track
The civic officials had developed a cycle track on Malhar Road at the time of its beautification, but the track along with pedestrian path has turned into an unofficial parking space. Vehicles could be seen parked on the entire stretch and there is hardly any space to ride cycles.