Cycle tracks - the flagship project of previous Samajwadi Party regime may soon cease to exist as the UP Government has decided to demolish the tracks which was a pet project of former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Cycle Tracks were constructed along city streets in all big cities of the state or encouragting ‘good health’. The project was financed by municipal corporations, urban development authorities and industrial authorities in NOIDA and Greater NOIDA. Urban local bodies spent close to Rs 500 crore on the project. The Public Works Department constructed the tracks along major arterial roads in lucknow. The cycle tracks drew opposition from rival parties as they saw a subtle message behind these tracks. The colour on pillars along the tracks were also targeted by SP’s opponents as it resembled the red and green colour of the ruling party. But after coming to power, the Yogi government decided to drop the prefix `Samajwadi’ from welfare schemes and projects and also the lucknow- Agra Expressway.
Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs minister Suresh Khanna said in lucknow on Tuesday that the cycle tracks were serving no purpose, were lying unused and encroachment on them led to traffic congestion.
In 2007, the BSP government led by Mayawati had demolished iron railings alongside lohia Path constructed during the Mulayam Singh Yadav regime that was voted out of power in 2007 Assembly poll.
``The Government has decided to demolish the cycle tracks. We have received large number of complaints from different cities. The Government is of the view that cycle tracks were serving no purpose and hence they will be demolished. The process would begin from Bareilly,’’ said minister Suresh Khanna. Incidentally, cycle also is the election symbol of Samajwadi Party. The SP suffered the worst ever poll debacle in its 25-year history in the 2017 assembly poll and its tally plummeted to 47 seats.
Asked whether any survey for identifying such tracks was carried out, Khanna said, “The Government will act in public interest. People were facing inconnivienece and they have complained and the Government decided only after these complaints.’’
Former CM Akhilesh Yadav marketed the cycle track as a major initiative for conserving environment and promotion for good health. The former SP regime formulated an urban housing policy recommending construction of tracks for ‘easy, smooth and safe movement of cyclists’ in urban areas of the state. In lucknow and Noida, over 100 km of tracks were built. A 35-km stretch costing Rs 31 crore was inaugurated by Akhilesh Yadav in lucknow in 2015. The next year, Akhilesh inaugurated the state’s first cycle highway between Etawah and Agra, measuring 207 km and costing Rs 134 crore.