When the Jayanagar cycle track project was announced, it was purported to be a ‘model’ for others. In a city where walking itself was a problem, here was an initiative that would help you cycle through the traffic of Jayanagar.
But seven months after the project was announced and four months after it missed its deadline, not only is the project yet to be completed, most people are not even aware of it.
Envisaged as a segregated track, the project was supposed to benefit many school children who were forced to cycle to their schools through dangerous roads, and also make sure that residents did not use cars and bikes, at least to travel around Jayanagar.
It was supposed to be finished in three months, after its launch in November. But seven months have passed and schools have even reopened after vacations, but the streets of Jayanagar are yet to be cycle-friendly.
Officials in the BBMP, working on the project claim that only 30% of the work was remaining and the cycle track will be opened to public soon. “Pedestrian crossings are ready and we have begun painting roads. All that is remaining now is putting up signages and setting up docking stations for the cycles. It will be completed within this month itself,” he said.
Murali of Ride a Cycle Foundation (RACF), who has also been pushing for segregated tracks in the area, said that the next step in the work—putting up signage—was crucial. “If signages are not put up, saying these are tracks for cycles, people will simply park their vehicles there,” he said.
At least 100 signages will be put up for the benefit of the people and 20 docking stations will also be provided for cycles, Murali added.
The BBMP official added that cycle track maps will also be put up for residents of Jayanagar, so that they can refer to it to plan their routes.
