First 23-km-long solar-roof cycling track in India will be ready soon, says Special CS Arvind Kumar

HYDERABAD: The first 23-km-long solar-roof cycling track in India will be ready shortly, according to Arvind Kumar, Special Chief Secretary, MA&UD, on Saturday.

Construction works on the Hyderabad cycling track are nearing completion, and greenery and landscaping work on the track has already begun. The solar panelling has been completed, and installation will commence in the next 10 days.

Arvind Kumar took to Twitter on Saturday to discuss the latest progress on these much-anticipated bicycle tracks in Hyderabad. He tweeted, "Cycle track and #ORR-Civil works are nearing completion, greenery and landscaping work has begun, solar panelling has been finalised, and installation will begin in the next 10 days. It will be the first of its kind in India once completed ".

The 4.5-metre-wide cycling track would extend next to the ORR for 22 kilometres in two stretches in western Hyderabad, 8.45 kilometres from Nanakramguda to the Telangana State Police Academy (TSPA) and 13.8 kilometres from Narsingi to Kollur.

On September 6, 2022, Telangana Municipal Minister K T Rama Rao laid the foundation for the 23-kilometer-long cycle track, which was designed after the Daejeon and Sejong cycling lanes in South Korea.

A team from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and HGCL had previously visited South Korea to study the Cycling Track Project between Daejon and Sejong.

This one-of-a-kind cycling track would shield bicyclists from the sun, rain, and other weather conditions while also isolating them from major traffic, increasing the safety of their commute.

Parking spots, surveillance cameras, bicycle docking and rental stations, food courts, drinking water, restrooms, and basic bicycle repair shops would be accessible near the track.

Additional infrastructure would be built to ensure that the track is well-lit at night and in the mornings. The lights would be powered by solar panels on the roof, making the project self-sufficient.

According to HMDA officials, the solar roofing of the cycling track can generate around 9MW of power. This energy would be used for streetlights and drip irrigation along the ORR.

Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) would invest a total initial capital investment for solar panels, maintain it for 25 years, and supply power to the department at a subsidised price.

Hyderabadis, particularly cycling enthusiasts, are eagerly awaiting the much-anticipated Hyderabad cycle track, which would add to the city's grandeur and infrastructure development.