The Delhi government wants to construct a nine-kilometre cycle track on the 22-kilometre signal-free stretch between Vikaspuri and Wazirabad.
The road beneath the newly opened 900-meter Mukundpur flyover on the stretch has a cycle track already.
“This flyover has a cycle track below it, which is a good initiative at a time when we are talking about pollution. But I have suggested building a nine-kilometre cycle track on this signal-free corridor. Cycling is the way forward,” said deputy chief minister, Manish Sisodia.
Sisodia suggested installing solar panels to protect cyclists from the sun and generate energy. “In Delhi people cycle because they have no other option. They don’t do it for fashion. And unlike USA and Europe, we have hot weather most of the time. A labourer is forced to ride cycle in the hot weather,” said Sisodia.
With the corridor fully operational, the government will focus on the Anand Vihar Terminal to Peeragarhi east-west corridor (29 kilometres) and Wazirabad to Airport north-south corridor (24 kilometres).
It will emphasise on cycle tracks.
The new road infrastructure is expected to decongest Delhi. The government said four stretches of elevated corridors, one underground tunnel from NH 24 bypass to Lodhi Road and corridor improvement of road from Khajuri Khas-Bhopura border, will be taken up shortly.
To promote cycling on existing roads, 11 roads will be redesigned as a pilot project. It will later be extended to the entire 1,260 kilometres of PWD roads.
Union ministry of urban development (UD) also proposed the construction of five critical roads to decongest Delhi and improve connectivity within the city. One of them is the extension of Barapullah Phase-3. It will run from east Delhi to the airport, connecting the Dwarka Expressway.
Another important project are the proposed Urban Extension Roads, which will connect north Delhi with the airport and Gurgaon. Once this road is built, commuters can avoid congested areas of central and south Delhi such as Connaught Place and Rao Tula Ram Marg.
The other critical roads include extension of the Chhattarpur and Mandi Road for better connectivity to Gurgaon and new connections from Noida and Faridabad.
