Chandigarh’s 200 km of cycle tracks make commuting safer, greener, and effortless
Chandigarh: In Chandigarh, dedicated cycling lanes are redefining urban mobility with safer, greener, and more mindful commutes.
The city has built over 200 km of segregated cycle tracks — the largest network in India — connecting sectors, schools, markets, and workplaces.
What began as a pilot in 2016 under the Smart Cities Mission has now become part of daily life. The tracks are painted, shaded in stretches, and separated from motor traffic by kerbs or planters.
“Earlier I wouldn’t let my daughter cycle to college. Now she goes alone and I don’t worry,” says Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Sector 22. “Cars don’t cut into the lane. It feels safe.”
The network links major hubs: PGI, Punjab University, IT Park, Sector 17 Plaza, and the Capitol Complex. Last-mile connectivity to bus stops and Metro stations is also built in.
Morning counts by the Chandigarh Traffic Police show a 40% rise in cycle usage since 2022. School trips make up a large share, but office-goers are catching on too.
Amanpreet Singh, who works in IT Park, sold his second car last year. “My commute is 6 km. It takes me 20 minutes by cycle, same as a car in traffic. But I’m not stressed, and I get exercise.”
The administration credits consistent maintenance, signage, and enforcement. Fines for encroachment by vehicles are routine. Damaged stretches are relaid quickly.
Urban planners say the impact goes beyond transport. Air quality sensors along cycle corridors show lower NO2 levels during peak hours. Street vendors report higher footfall where tracks pass markets.
Challenges remain. Some older sectors still have gaps. Monsoon waterlogging affects a few low-lying stretches. But feedback loops with cycling groups are helping fix issues fast.
“Cities often build for cars and then ask people to cycle,” says a municipal engineer. “We flipped it. We built for cycles first.”
For a city designed by Le Corbusier around sectors and green belts, the cycle tracks feel like a natural fit. Commuting here doesn’t just move people. It slows them down, just enough to notice the trees.
