The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has announced its intention to repurpose the underutilized cycle tracks in the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) into additional vehicular lanes. This initiative is designed to increase road capacity and improve traffic flow in one of Mumbai’s busiest commercial centers.

Spanning 370 hectares, BKC accommodates around 200,000 employees and nearly 400,000 visitors every day. The recent closure of the Sion bridge has worsened traffic conditions by diverting a large volume of vehicles, including heavy trucks, onto the internal roads of BKC. The existing infrastructure, which was originally created to handle smaller vehicles, has been unable to manage the increased traffic load effectively.

As part of its comprehensive traffic management plan, MMRDA intends to convert the 2.7-meter-wide cycle tracks into additional vehicular lanes. This would increase lane capacity from two lanes in each direction (2+2) to three lanes in each direction (3+3) in certain sections. The transformation is expected to accommodate an additional 600 to 900 vehicles per lane, reducing peak-hour travel time by about 40 percent—from 25 minutes to 15 minutes. Furthermore, the average waiting time at traffic signals is projected to drop from 10 minutes to 7 minutes, contributing to a 30 percent decrease in carbon emissions due to less idling.

To enable this expansion, supporting infrastructure such as streetlights, signboards, bus stops, and landscaping features will be relocated to the footpaths. Additionally, a one-way traffic system will be introduced on selected internal roads within BKC to further ease congestion and improve traffic movement.

The cycle tracks were originally approved in 2011, with construction starting in 2012. By 2021, approximately 9 kilometers of these tracks had been completed at a cost of Rs 600 million. However, these tracks have largely remained underutilized. Critics—including cycling advocates and urban planners—have attributed this to poor alignment, lack of connectivity, and inadequate maintenance. The estimated cost for dismantling the tracks is Rs 250 million.

While the repurposing of the cycle tracks aims to provide immediate relief from traffic congestion, it has sparked debate regarding sustainable urban planning and the importance of maintaining non-motorized transport infrastructure. Experts have emphasized the need for a balanced and comprehensive plan that meets the demands of vehicular traffic while promoting environmentally friendly and equitable transportation options.