In a first, cycling track to come up in Kashmir

Work has started on the site. Utilities are being shifted, including an 11kv power line and water supply lines. SHAHID CHAUDHARY, deputy commissioner

SRINAGAR: Construction has begun on Kashmir’s first cycling track, which will extend from Srinagar’s Soura junction to Elahi-bagh junction.

The 5-km track, which is part of the smart city programme, will run in the north-east direction along the footpath on the right side of the road.srinagar deputy commissioner Shahid Chaudhary said the city’s best engineers had been put on the job.“work has started on site development. Utilities are being shifted, including an 11kilovolt power line and water supply lines,” Chaudhary said.the project comes at a time when the populace of Srinagar is exhibiting increasing interest in cycling as public transport has remained shut for almost a year since August 5, 2019 when restrictions were imposed following the revocation of J&K’S special status and then due to the lockdown imposed to contain the Covid-19 pandemic in March. The cycling track will be a 4m corridor with 2.5m width for the track and 1.5m for the footpath. The existing foot path will be dismantled and a fresh one laid. The DC said that standards set by the Indian Roads Congress will be followed. “The ministry of road transport and highways’ guidelines have been adopted to design components of the track,” he said.

Besides road signs, thermoplastic road markings have been proposed to ensure traffic safety.

ANOTHER TRACK ALONG JHELUM BUND

The official said the administration is planning on building another cycle track in the centre of the city along river Jhelum.

“Work on another cycling track under the smart city programme and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) along the Jhelum Bund will start next month ,” he said.