MMRDA makes way for cyclists to Alibaug …….Alka Shukla
State agency creates special corridor for cyclists along Virar-Alibaug stretch
State agency creates special corridor for cyclists along Virar-Alibaug stretch
Salman Khans promotional efforts for cycling seems to have struck a chord with MMRDA.
For, the planning body intends to provide space for cyclists in the proposed multi-modal Virar to Alibaug corridor.
The 140 km route will help motorists zip across from Virar to the holiday destination in about 75 minutes.
The idea is to include all modes of transport. Hence, along with rail, four wheelers and two wheelers, it is only fair to include cyclists as well, said S R Nandargirkar, chief engineer, MMRDA.
Interestingly, this is the first time that a mega road project in the state has taken cognisance of cyclists.
The entire stretch will be 99 metres wide. With a 30-metre route for a pair of metro rails (to and fro) at the centre, it will be flanked by a 14-metre carriageway on both sides which will include a dedicated lane for buses, followed by three lanes for four wheelers.
A five metre footpath with storm water drains and two more vehicular lanes have been also included. It will have a 2.5 metre parking provision on each side for cars, with another 3.5 metre lane for riding and parking of two wheelers as well.
Two-metre lanes at the end of each side will be dedicated Non-Motor Tracks (NMT). Apart from cyclists, we will also allow joggers to use this track. That will help us analyse usage patterns, said another MMRDA official.
The corridor from Virar will pass through several important junctions like Bhivandi, Kalyan, Panvel, JNPT Road and Wadkhal Naka before it reaches Alibaug.
It will have an interchange at all these locations. We expect more cyclists and adventure lovers to use these shorter distances, created by interchanges, the official said.
However, a big challenge for the project, which is estimated to cost around Rs 10,000 crore, is land acquisition. Nearly 50 per cent of the corridor will be on existing roads.
But the other half involves cutting through areas where roads dont really exist. While this will help provide connectivity to such areas and thereby contribute to urban development, issues like land acquisition, relief and rehabilitation will have to be dealt with, Nandargirkar said.
The one-of-its-kind, multi-modal corridor is one of 16 projects MMRDA aims to finish under its Mission 2014 plan.
The project will be taken up in phases with the highway likely to be completed before the metro line.
The consultancy contract for the project is likely to be awarded this week.