EVEN as the Mayor-in-Council has recently approved a PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) based public bicycle-sharing system at 50 locations across the city to promote eco friendly transport, the existing Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) corridors continue to remain in a poor condition. Encroachments, illegal parking and damaged infrastructure have made many of these corridors unusable for pedestrians and cyclists. The bicycle sharing project is expected to encourage green mobility and generate rental revenue for the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC). However, residents said the success of the initiative will depend on the condition of the city’s existing cycling and walking infrastructure. The NMT corridors were developed under the Smart City Mission to promote walking and cycling. Crores of rupees were spent on the project. Today, many stretches present a different picture.

 

Large portions of the corridors have been encroached upon by fruit and vegetable vendors, tea stalls and illegally parked vehicles. Busy locations such as Gwarighat Road, Katanga Road, Ghantaghar and the Omti corridor are among the worst affected. Safe movement for pedestrians and cyclists has become difficult. The infrastructure has also deteriorated. Broken tiles, damaged seating areas, rusting grills and missing LED lights can be seen at several places. In many locations, entry points are blocked, making it difficult even for cyclists to use the tracks. Although anti encroachment drives are carried out from time to time, vendors often return within hours. Residents allege that regular monitoring is missing and enforcement remains weak. The city has several NMT corridors, including Bhatkhande Sangeet Vidyalaya to Old Bus Stand, Old Bus Stand to Old Jyoti Talkies, Deshbandhu Complex to Ghantaghar, Katanga Tiraha to Jhanda Chowk and the elevated Omti Nala corridor connecting Bus Stand, Madan Mahal and Prabhat Puliya.

 

People say that before launching new bicycle-sharing system, Jabalpur Municipal Corporation must restore and protect existing NMT corridors. Without maintenance and strict action against encroachments, city’s dream of sustainable urban transport may remain incomplete.