Hyderabad: Telangana’s Warangal has made it to the list of the top 11 Cycling Pioneers in the country, while Hyderabad too figures in the top 25 cities that have taken up different cycling friendly initiatives.
The two cities figured in a list released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on Wednesday, awarding 11 cities with the prestigious title of being India’s Top 11 Cycling Pioneers. The award marks the start of the next stage of the first season of ‘India Cycles 4 Change Challenge’ sponsored by the Union government through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The top 11 cities will receive an award of Rs.1 crore each to scale up their cycling initiatives, according to a press release.
“Warangal has developed beautiful cycle lanes that promote a healthy lifestyle while causing no pollution. We aspire to see many more of these in our towns and cities of Telangana for a greener future,” Municipal Administration and Urban Development KT Rama Rao said.
As for Hyderabad, the Minister said the city fostered a strong collaboration between the Municipal Corporation, the Traffic Police, and Transport authorities at every step, from identifying pilot sites and mapping issues to developing design solutions.
“They tested a pop-up cycle lane using paints, bollards, and signage. Hyderabad now aims to institutionalize this collaboration by setting up a Healthy Streets Committee responsible for implementing a city-wide cycling network,” he added.
The Ministry of Housing Urban Affairs said Warangal went the extra mile to ensure diverse groups of citizens took to cycling, with something for everyone: safe rallies for the elderly; cycling-themed events like drawing and essay competitions as well as kite festivals for children; tree planting and cleanliness drives for college students; slow cycle races and rangoli festivals for women.
“With cycle donation drives for the underprivileged, the city also made sure cycles reached everyone who needed them. Warangal is ensuring that every citizen—young, old, rich, and poor—is a part of the city’s cycling journey!” the release said.
Celebrating India’s cycling revolution over the last year, the Ministry had launched an Online Exhibition showcasing the journey of the top 25 cities, which transformed their streets and launched initiatives to become cycling-friendly.
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