[sustran] Pro-cycling development in Vizag, India

[Faizan Jawed Siddiqi]

Vizag set to become cycle-proud G. V. Prasada Sarma

This coastal city seems set to take new strides in going green – and
pedal-healthy.

Having successfully introduced ‘no motor vehicle' zones across 20 km of
roads, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is seeking to
further the use of cycles in order to reduce pollution caused by motor
vehicles.

It plans to introduce a community cycling initiative over 10.5 sq km of
roads in downtown Visakhapatnam, under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban
Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
 *Popular*

The introduction of four cycling zones, notably along the picturesque Beach
Road, had caught the popular imagination in recent months.

Every Monday, civic officials, including the Municipal Commissioner, use
cycles or public transport to go to work, putting away official vehicles
for the day.

According to Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu, in the central parts
of the city, cycling tracks will be earmarked on 100-feet roads to a width
of about 8 feet.

Five stations are proposed in the busy areas to park cycles. Such
facilities at the bus station and the railway station would aid commuters.

Those who can operate cycles with smart cards will get subsidised
membership.

Mr. Ramanjaneyulu said that along the 42-km Bus Rapid Transit System route
also, provision has been made for cycling tracks.

The GVMC will seek Rs.4 crore for the project. The Andhra Pradesh Pollution
Control Board has offered Rs.1 crore. The Visakhapatnam Port Trust and
certain industrial units have promised support.
 *Industrial pollution*

Industrial pollution, including that generated by port operations, is a
problem here. After sustained protests from residents, the Parliamentary
Committee on Science, Technology and Environment has suggested a plan to
plant 40 lakh saplings.

Visakhapatnam is one of the four target cities where the International
Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) has been working out
strategies for climate change adaptation.

The ICLEI South Asia has entered into a memorandum of understanding with
the GVMC for a study on climate change mitigation strategies. It has
promised technical support to import cycles to be made available to
registered members once the cycling project is in place.

Keywords: Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal
Corporation<http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/article2925295.ece#>
, no motor vehicle
zone<http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/article2925295.ece#>

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/article2925295.ece



Faizan Jawed Siddiqi
Master in City Planning, class of 2013
International Development Group
MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning
+1 617 359 8220
fjawed at mit.edu