Sonepat MC to encourage cycling to check air pollution

BS Malik           

In order to create awareness about the need to maintain good health and control increasing air pollution, the Sonepat Municipal Corporation has planned to construct cycle tracks along a few main roads in the town at an estimated cost of Rs 15.33 crore. The corporation will also give cycles on rent to interested persons for travelling on these tracks. The state government has approved the plan and the tender process will be started soon. 

The Urban and Local Bodies Department will complete the project under the Atal Mission Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme. The project to be started in 2019 will not be confined to cycle tracks and footpaths along the roads will also be constructed in the town. Besides, over-bridges will also be constructed at the Subhash Chowk and the bus stand.

The cycle tracks will be constructed along the roads from Maharaja Agrasen Chowk on the Sonepat-Murthal road up to the Kalupur Chungi on the Sonepat-Rohtak road via Maharana Pratap Chowk on the Sonepat-Bahalgarh road; and the ITI Chowk on the Sonepat-Narela road. The cycle tracks will also be constructed along other main roads, including the Murthal road and the Bahalgarh road. There will be cycle stands at different places along the tracks where people can hire cycles by submitting an identity proof.

Before the cycle track plan is implemented, the corporation and the local Rotary Club are launching another campaign as part of the Rahgiri programme, under which cycles will be given to the participants on an hourly rent.

Kavita Jain, local MLA and Urban Local Bodies Minister, says that the Sonepat Municipal Corporation has started working on the cycle track project and it will be completed on priority keeping in view public interest. 

She claims that the project will directly benefit people in four ways. First, people will become conscious of taking care of their health; secondly, it will minimise air pollution being caused by vehicles; thirdly, it will help in minimising traffic congestion on the main roads of the town, and lastly it will encourage people to save money by riding cycles.