Bengaluru: To pedal or not to pedal. This eternal question has received a happy answer, with Bengaluru set to get one of its longest dedicated bicycle tracks — offering cyclists a continuous 10.3-km corridor — away from regular traffic.The lane is being developed by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) as part of the 11km Major Arterial Road (MAR) connecting Magadi Road and Mysuru Road. Built along the service road, the cycle track stretches across almost the entire length of the new corridor as part of the MAR project, which is scheduled to be inaugurated during the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations on June 27.The development is significant for Bengaluru’s cycling community, which has seen dedicated cycling infrastructure shrink over the years.The project, fast-tracked by BDA chairman NA Haris and commissioner P Manivannan, is also likely to be the first major infrastructure work inaugurated by chief minister DK Shivakumar after assuming office.According to BDA officials, road construction works are in an advanced stage. “Barring the underpass stretch, the rest of the road has a bicycle lane,” a BDA official said.Officials said allied works such as installation of road signages, lane markings, and painting of underpasses are under way as the project enters its final phase.The city had earlier introduced bicycle lanes along Outer Ring Road between Silk Board and KR Pura and in parts of the central business district. However, much of that infrastructure disappeared after Namma Metro construction gathered pace along the corridor. “The Magadi Road–Mysuru Road corridor is poised to become one of the city’s most substantial cycling routes, offering a safer and more reliable commuting option for cyclists,” a BDA official added.80kmph cruise from Magadi Rd to Mysuru Rd. And no tollMajor Arterial Road (MAR) is one of Bengaluru’s most anticipated infrastructure projects, having faced years of delays before receiving a major push over the past year. BDA completed several critical components of the project, including an underpass beneath the busy railway line near Challaghatta, helping pave the way for its completion.The 10-lane corridor, comprising a six-lane main carriageway and four-lane service roads, connects Kadabagere on Magadi Road with Challaghatta on Mysuru Road. It also provides direct connectivity to nine blocks of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout.Motorists will now have an alternative route, avoiding toll on NICE Road while travelling between the two corridors. As part of the project, three major underpasses, 64 minor bridges, and a 250-metre-long ‘tunnel road’ have been constructed.The opening of the corridor is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Magadi Road and Mysuru Road. “The new corridor has been designed for a maximum speed of 80 kmph, which will significantly reduce travel time for motorists,” a BDA source said.Asked about integrating the road with the Bengaluru–Mysuru access-controlled highway at Challaghatta, an official said a cloverleaf interchange would be constructed once Phase 2 of the Peripheral Ring Road is implemented, ensuring seamless connectivity to the highway and other roads.“Until then, traffic signals will be installed at Challaghatta, and vehicle movement will be regulated in coordination with the traffic police, who have already inspected the junction,” the official said.
