Metro status fails to help plight of Faridabad’s cycle tracks, footpaths
Acquiring metropolitan status and grants in the crores seems to have failed to provide an adequate cycle track and footpath infrastructure in the city.
Despite multiple civic agencies — including the Faridabad Municipal Corporation (MC), HSVP, Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA), and Faridabad Smart City Limited — being functional, a majority of the roads of the city are yet to have a proper cycle track or footpath — a prime need for thousands of commuters.
The issue has been addressed only in selected part as such the facility which has come up on the four-five km stretch passing through sectors 21, 28, 29, and the dividing roads of sectors 11-12, 15 and 15-A so far, despite being a part of the Smart City project, according to officials.
Two tracks worth about Rs 50 lakh constructed by the HSVP and the FMDA in Sector-12 have turned obsolete due to the absence of regulations and upkeep.
A drive by the MC to earmark passages for cyclists in the industrial areas got abandoned many years ago due to no clear cut planning, said an official, on condition of anonymity.
“Cycling or walking on the roads here is risky as there is no dedicated track or passage, despite spending several crores of rupees on infrastructure,” said Sardar Devender Singh, convenor, NGO Road Safety Haryana.
“Cyclists and the pedestrians have to tread on roads, putting their safety at risk,” said Vishnu Goel, a resident.
Walking down roads of the area was dangerous due to open manholes and drains, which remain invisible due to waterlogging, he added.
The death of a young engineer due to a manhole about two years ago has failed to wake up the authorities.
The Human Rights Commission, Haryana, had ordered financial compensation of Rs 10 lakh in connection to the death of two persons, who died in an open manhole in 2016.
FMDA Chief Engineer Ramesh Bagri said some cycle tracks and footpaths had been built in the recent past. The department would take up projects if sanctioned by the government.
MC Executive Engineer Ombir Singh said such a project is yet to be taken up.
