Vizag Revives Cycling Plans, but Old Hurdles Remain

The State government’s renewed effort to promote cycling in Visakhapatnam has revived memories of earlier attempts that never gained traction. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu recently emphasized the importance of encouraging bicycles as an eco-friendly option in a city known for its greenery. However, the city’s history with cycling initiatives has been far from successful.

Seven years ago, VMRDA and GVMC proposed a dedicated cycling track along the beach corridor from VMRDA Park to Bheemili, but the plan stalled. Officials now say that unless the beach stretch is widened as outlined in the VMRDA master plan, creating a separate track is unlikely. The existing road already has a central divider with greenery, grills, and footpaths only three to four feet wide. Without widening, repurposing this space for cyclists could cause congestion and safety issues.

In 2018, under the Smart City project, VMRDA built a 300-metre cycle track in Siripuram. It was painted green, marked with bicycle symbols and ran from Fusion Foods Hotel to Akashavani Kendra. It was showcased as a model facility at the time.

GVMC also attempted to promote cycling when former Commissioner Hari Narayana introduced 100 public-use bicycles on Beach Road. Four locations, including Kalimata Temple, Pandurangapuram and YMCA, received 25 cycles each, offered free to registered users. The initiative later faded out, and officials say they are not sure where the bicycles ended up.

For a short period, GVMC commissioners cycled to office on Mondays from their residence near the Sampath Vinayak temple in Asilmetta to show support for green mobility. That practice also stopped. Now, the civic body is again planning to procure cycles in a renewed attempt to revive the idea.