BMC announces a new cycle track in Mumbai from Mahim Fort to Bandra Fort

After a hiatus of almost 15 months, BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finally flagged off a new cycle track in Mumbai. It will be 6 meter wide and 3.59 KM boardwalk-cum-cycle track project running from Mahim Fort to Bandra Fort and cycling enthusiasts are thrilled! Cycling is an amazing way to travel around the city, we feel. You can avoid the traffic and get in a good workout too. 

The tender for this new broad-walk was floated in 2021, however due to the COVID-19 shutdown and high-cost, the project got stalled for over a year. Nonetheless, BMC recently approved the proposal to award the contract to a joint venture between M/s Unique Construction and Speco Infrastructure. 

Apart from the above, M/s Tandon Urban Solution Pvt. Ltd. and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai will function as consultation authorities for the project. The consultancy charges for IIT- Mumbai to proof check the design, is ₹36.66 lakh. The project will be further maintained by the contractor for 10 years and run on a design, build, operate and maintenance model.

The total length of the stretch is proposed to be 3.59 KMs with a width of 6 meters, including a walkway of 1.75 metres, followed by a cycle track of 2.5 metres in between and then another cycle track of 1.75 metres on the other side. Together, the cycle track and boardwalk is to be made from coloured bitumen and composite wooden material.

BMC has made a provision of ₹262 crore for the track. The track will run along the sea between Mahim fort and Bandra fort, along the existing road on the other side. Mumbai has its share of cycling enthusiasts who use the roads often at great peril. City planners need to provide cycling space on arterial roads so that it becomes a mode of transport and not just a leisure or sporting activity.