New Delhi: Delhi Development Authority’s ambitious plan to build a 53km cycling track along the Yamuna floodplain is finally set to move forward, with the principal committee of National Green Tribunal clearing the proposal after route modifications.Officials said the committee had raised concerns over the original route alignment. “The issues have been resolved and necessary changes made in the proposed plan,” an official said. The corridor will run from Wazirabad Yamuna Bridge to NH-24 and further up to Kalindi Kunj Biodiversity Park.The project will be executed in three phases. In the first phase, a 24km stretch between Old Railway Bridge and NH-24 on both riverbanks will be taken up. “The plan for phase I has been reworked following expert observations to ensure both environmental sensitivity and functional usability throughout the year. The revised route has been shifted away from vulnerable river edges and instead follows existing embankments and established pathways,” an official said.Phase I is expected to take around 12 months after the award of the work, following detailed surveys and coordination with the agencies concerned.The track is expected to offer a continuous recreational route along the riverfront. The corridor will use permeable materials and have docking stations, parking areas, shaded rest points, viewing decks and wayfinding systems, all designed to blend with the surrounding landscape without disturbing the ecological character of the floodplain, said officials.The project is a key component of DDA’s larger plan to restore more than 1,700 hectares of the Yamuna floodplain into biodiverse and publicly accessible spaces. Officials said DDA had already undertaken 13 projects in the floodplain area, several of which are completed, including Asita, Baansera, Kalindi Biodiversity Park, Yamuna Vatika, Amrut Biodiversity Park and ghat development works. Other projects such as Mayur Nature Park and an eco-tourism zone are under development.“The cycle track will connect these restored sites. These initiatives form part of a broader strategy for restoration and rejuvenation of the river’s ecological landscape while enabling regulated public access and reconnecting citizens with the river,” the official said.Officials added that the corridor was not merely a transport project but part of a wider vision to strengthen the relationship between citizens and the river through sustainable access. “By promoting non-motorised transport, the cycle corridor is expected to improve public health, enhance recreational opportunities and create a stronger river-people interface across key restored sites,” they said.In Nov, chief minister Rekha Gupta had chaired a high-level review meeting on the project. She was informed that most departments had already issued no-objection certificates and the railway-related approvals were in the final stage. She was also informed that the tendering process was completed and the preparatory work for starting construction was in progress.
