Hyderabad: 80 meters of solar-powered cycle track demolished

Hyderabad: Municipal officials on Tuesday removed 80 metres of a 23-km-long solar-powered cycle track. Officials have said that only a small portion of the solar cycle track was removed to make space for traffic movement at Nanakramguda and the rest of the track will remain unchanged. The sudden removal of this much-loved Hyderabad landmark, especially among fitness enthusiasts, was widely criticised by the general public on social media. However, a large number of commuters who travel daily from Nanakramguda welcomed the decision and argued that easing traffic is far more important than an unused cycle track.

There were also those on social media who did not agree with the sudden unannounced decision to remove part of the cycle track to make way for general traffic. Senior traffic officials of Cyberabad clarified that only a portion of the cycle track is being removed to accommodate a ramp that will benefit traffic from Khajaguda. Traffic officials said a small down ramp after Nanakramguda will help commuters save time and benefit traffic management.

The 23-km-long cycle track along the ORR was officially inaugurated in early 2023 during the tenure of the BRS government, marking an important milestone for the city. Known as the ‘Healthway Cycling Track’, this unique facility boasts of a global design and is divided into two distinct sections. The first section covers a distance of 8.5 km, stretching from TGPA to Nanakramguda. The second section, spanning 14.5 km, stretches from Narsingi to Kollur.