Out of the proposed 70km, a significant 36km were earmarked for the BMC’s colossal ‘Green Wheels along the Blue Lines‘ cycle track project along the Tansa water pipeline-a dream now reduced to a solitary stretch, serving as a stark reminder of yet another unfulfilled promise made to Mumbaikars. The estimated cost of the project was Rs 331 crore. Not only did the Tansa project falter, but cycle tracks in other areas like Mahalaxmi, around the Racecourse, have also fallen short. Today, motorbikes can be seen occupying lanes once designated for cyclists. A senior official associated with the project noted, “We initiated a 750-metre pilot project with plans for a 4km cycling track along the outer periphery of the Racecourse. But after the pilot project, the larger initiative never took off due to funding constraints.”
Cycling is one of the best forms of exercise and also environment-friendly. But in Mumbai, cycling on public roads can be dangerous given the chaotic traffic and the potholes. There have been several instances in which cyclists have been knocked down and run over by motorists. Compare this appalling situation with European cities where cyclists get priority over cars, and even enjoy exclusive lanes with dedicated signals. That Mumbai has failed to provide such facilities shows that our planners and decision-makers continue to privilege drivers of fuel-guzzling cars and two-wheelers.
From Mulund to Sion, and from Mahim to Mahalaxmi, the BMC’s cycle track plans encountered insurmountable obstacles at every turn. Juhu resident Firoza Dadan, the first ‘bicycle mayor’ of Mumbai, expressed her disappointment, saying, “The project held substantial promise, envisioning a non-motorized thoroughfare stretching from Mulund to Vile Parle, thereby enhancing safety. The project’s unrealized potential is disheartening, and Mumbai’s road imperfections, particularly during the monsoon, makes secure cycling a challenging endeavor. Additionally, the presence of reckless motorcyclists on the roads compounds the problem.” Dadan initiated discussions with contractors and found that encroachments along the designated route were a formidable hindrance, as occupants were unwilling to relocate.
In Mahim, activist Mushtaq Ansari lamented that the track laid near Mahim Causeway is primarily used by locals for walks and for children to play, falling far short of its intended purpose. Furthermore, other projects, such as the 10km track around Powai Lake and the Rs 168-crore project from Bandra Fort to Mahim Fort, were scrapped at the proposal stage. In 2017, BMC designated one lane for weekend cycling, stretching from NCPA to Girgaum Chowpatty. Despite an initial surge of interest, this effort failed to gain sustained popularity, and the broader vision of an 11km lane from NCPA to Worli for cyclists remains unfulfilled. Thus, years after grand plans were unveiled and politicians earned brownie points with them, cyclists are left to pick up the pieces-a disjointed, disappointing network-while they continue to risk their lives amidst unrelenting traffic.
Civic activists say that while the tracks did not materialize as promised, money went down the drain. For example, BMC sources say about Rs 125 crore has been spent on the Tansa project till now. “Several project sections remain incomplete, though the revised deadline (December) is close at hand. We had to scale down the plan by about 50% due to challenges posed by encroachments in various areas, some of which even led to court stays,” said a civic official.
The considerable expenditure incurred till now contrasts starkly with the modest results, while cycling in the city continues to be an arduous task rather than an enjoyable experience. Of the civic body’s 2017 vision aimed to lay Mumbai’s landscape with a cycle track and walkway alongside Tansa, the first phase was initially slated to run along Mulund-Powai-Andheri, covering 14km, which was later downsized to 9.5km. Also, allegations of the project being a scheme to benefit a select few contractors have surfaced, with Mulund MLA Mihir Kotecha asserting that the project was never intended to benefit the public or the cycling community. “It is evident that disconnected tracks were laid out,” he said. “In Mulund, the stretch that has been completed is utilized by morning walkers and, sadly, by alcoholics in the evening who leave glass bottles behind, making it uncomfortable for walkers the next day.”
Despite the project’s shortcomings, the BMC has touted the reclamation of space once encroached upon by slums as an achievement. “We would have to spend almost thrice the amount of the project on rehabilitating encroachers. The BMC felt the money was better spent on more important projects,” said an officer. “Wherever feasible, the project was undertaken.”
