Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has directed officials to build dedicated cycling corridors across a host of cities, including the twins, in a bid to promote the green mode of transport, which also happens to be the ruling Samajwadi Party’s symbol.
The CM on Monday said that Noida and Greater Noida would be developed as cycle-friendly cities, and directed officials to draw out a blueprint on priority basis and then put it into operation in a planned manner. The state capital, Lucknow, as well as the city of Agra, will also be developed as cycle-friendly cities, he said.
Considering the large number of students, labourers and factory workers in the cities, facilities for cycle tracks, stands, shelters and bicycles on hire, will soon be put into place to promote the healthy mode of transport. He said that “since Agra is a hotbed of tourists and foreigners”, it would be perfect for promoting the use of the cycle.
Exhorting people to inculcate the habit of cycling, the CM said the bicycle is the cheapest mode of transport and since his party has kept the interest of people in mind, he was promoting it.
A look across Noida, however, reveals that despite spending nearly Rs 20 crore constructing cycling lanes along main roads, cyclists have mostly stayed away, thanks to intrusion and poor maintenance of these tracks. Most of the cycling lanes are being used in an unauthorized manner, as parking lots and spaces for kiosks.
Akhilesh also said that a unique environment-friendly initiative will be undertaken in Noida. A green cover sprawling across 2,500 acres of land will be developed on an international level. This green expanse will have scores of different varieties of trees and plants, which will add to the city’s green canopy, he announced.
The green area will also have a 300-acre wide water body, a forest meditation center and a deer park, the CM said.
