No space for bicycles at Gaondevi Maidan parking irks cyclists | Mumbai news - Hindustan Times
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No space for bicycles at Gaondevi Maidan parking irks cyclists

Mar 25, 2023 12:13 AM IST

When chief minister Eknath Shinde inaugurated an underground parking at Gaondevi Maidan built at a cost of ₹26 crore, the 5,000-strong community of active cyclists in the city had hoped that they will also get a rightful parking space at a walking distance from Thane railway station

Thane: When chief minister Eknath Shinde inaugurated an underground parking at Gaondevi Maidan built at a cost of 26 crore, the 5,000-strong community of active cyclists in the city had hoped that they will also get a rightful parking space at a walking distance from Thane railway station. However, they were disheartened to find that the new parking built over an area of 4,330 sq metre was only open to two and four wheelers.

Thane, India - March 23, 2023: Cyclists struggle to find space to park their bicycles, at Ram Maruti Road, in Thane, in Mumbai, India, on Thursday, March 23, 2023. (Praful Gangurde/HT Photo) (HT PHOTO)
Thane, India - March 23, 2023: Cyclists struggle to find space to park their bicycles, at Ram Maruti Road, in Thane, in Mumbai, India, on Thursday, March 23, 2023. (Praful Gangurde/HT Photo) (HT PHOTO)

This has irked some of the cyclists who travel to Thane station on bicycles for work or other requirements.

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A 37-year-old resident from Thane, who lives two kms away from the station, cycles to the station daily. The resident who did not wish to be named said, “I have been using a cycle to reach the station for the last eight years and every day is a struggle when it comes to park my cycle. Earlier, I had to struggle to get a space for my cycle at the railway station parking lot, which also does not have a dedicated cycle parking. The recently inaugurated parking lot also has no such facility. When I asked the attendant there, why a cycle cannot be parked? he just laughed at me.”

What annoys the cyclist community the most is that every municipal corporation has been undertaking smart city projects and emphasising sustainable transportation. “On one hand, there is a vision of a smart city, several projects are undertaken to promote a pollution-free Thane and on the other side, there is no space for cycles that can actually help reduce the pollution,” he added.

The Thane railway station is one of the busiest suburban stations, with a footfall of over six to seven lakh each day, while the parking facility at the station is not adequate, the commuters claimed.

Ganesh Kumar, 35, who also commutes by his cycle daily, finds it very difficult to park the cycle. “Most times when I park my cycle along two-wheelers, I notice that either the cycle will be fallen or removed from the spot by someone and parked somewhere else. I have to be very conscious while parking my cycle as it is not certain that the spot is safe for parking,” said Kumar.

The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), which is trying to decongest the railway station area with measures like eviction of hawkers for free traffic movement, has also planned to improve overall parking facilities for vehicles in the area. The TMC had claimed that the Gaondevi underground parking facility will add parking capacity of 130 four-wheelers and 120 two-wheelers and Naikwadi basement parking will add parking for 43 vehicles. However, these parking facilities do not emphasize bicycle parking.

Chirag Shah, the bicycle mayor of Thane, said, “We have been trying to reach out to the civic body to ensure there is enough infrastructure for cyclists in the city. Once the facilities are in place, the people will definitely switch to cycles. The civic commissioner is positive about it, but things are running very slowly.”

The city has a cycle track of nearly 800 to 900 metres, which was opened a few months ago, while there is a demand to have more of such tracks.

Sandeep Malvi, additional commissioner of TMC, said, “There is a plan to have underground parking for cycles at the Gaondevi parking lot and we are working on it right now. We have not yet decided the capacity of the parking lot, but it will be considered with priority.”

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