Save Aarey group seeks infra to make city’s green lung a cycle-friendly zone : DNA

The Save Aarey Community has submitted a proposal to authourities for making Aarey Colony into a cycle-friendly zone by creating necessary infrastructure. This, they say, will not only serve cycling enthusiasts for recreation activities but also attract a major chunk of office goers working either in Powai, Goregaon or even SEEPZ by facilitating cycling to work.

Manish Gadia, a cycling enthusiast who has ideated this project, said that they are not demanding laying of a dedicated cycle track but instead proposing using the existing roads by upgrading them slightly to make cycling comfortable and safe for riders.

“Approximately, 25,000 vehicles use the eight kilometre Goregaon to Powai Aarey-Mulund Road, which passes through Aarey Colony. Many are people working either in Powai or in the Goregaon-Malad belt. Our proposal entails capturing these segments and giving them an option to use cycles at least to commute just on the Aarey stretch,” said Gadia. He added that under this project they have also proposed a manned and protected cycle stand or a rent-cycle scheme on both Goregaon and Powai-end as also one at the Marol end of the Aarey road.

According to the proposal, the internal roads with low traffic density have been chosen as the cycling route. “The proposed route starts from the first right turn one takes after entering Aarey Colony from the Western Express Highway side that leads to New Zealand hostel and thereafter winds up on the main Aarey road near the lane to VIP bungalow, which will help the cyclists complete around 75 per cent of the journey without having to ride on the main road,” shared Gadia.

Save Aarey Community has already met Gajanan Raut, chief executive officer of Aarey Dairy Development Board and submitted the proposal. They also explained to him how they can outsource the cycle rental, which can be made part of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). They now plan to meet senior BMC officials.

Eugene Das, founder of ‘We Will Help Charitable Foundation’, which has been working in Aarey with the locals and is part of the Save Aarey Community, said that the cycling initiative could also help create an employment opportunity for the locals.

“Apart from those who would be cycling to work, a substantial number of people would want to cycle for recreation or fitness reasons on a daily basis or on weekends. They can be provided cycles on rent and this can help the locals earn a livelihood, which in turn will ensure that this project will be a long-term one,” he said.