After Dwarka, DDA bats for cycling all over

Recognizing cycling as an important mode of public transport, Delhi Development Authority on Tuesday approved a policy to promote it. Officials said a network of bicycle stations will be developed with a minimum distance of 300 metres between two of them. While DDA has made such plans in Dwarka and areas which it will develop under the land pooling policy, civic agencies will be asked to work out a plan to implement it in their jurisdiction. 

In the pilot project in Dwarka, around 170 cycle stations will be set up. The authority also plans to develop infrastructure, including a dedicated cycling lane, docking stations and other facilities to promote the use of cycles, especially for short distances. For this project, Rs 120 crore has been allocated in DDA's annual budget. 

As per the cycling policy, the implementing agency will have to set up a dense network of fully automated stations in its jurisdiction so no staff will be required. Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) will be installed to track the cycle where it was taken and deposited by the user. It will also have information about the user. "A common smart card or mobility card, which can also be used in buses, Metro and other public transport, will be given to operate it," said a DDA official.

The project will be implemented on Public Private Partnership basis. Officials said real-time monitoring of station occupancy rates will be done through GPRS to help in redistribution of cycles. There is also a plan to provide real-time information on availability of cycles on web and mobile-based applications. 

Meanwhile, DDA has also approved the land pooling policy, the guidelines for which were notified by the Union urban development ministry last month, along with five modifications. "Farmers or land owners having less than 2 hectares and causing hindrance to the infrastructure facility will be given an option to avail transferable development rights in the form of 150 FAR for their land. This can be sold to developers with plots of 2 hectares, who will get 450 FAR instead of 400 as permissible in residential areas," said an official.

SOURCE: THE TIMES OF INDIA