Home / Environment / NGT Rethinks Yamuna Cycle Track: Floodplain Safety First
NGT Rethinks Yamuna Cycle Track: Floodplain Safety First
16 Sep
Summary
- Cycle track realigned to protect vulnerable river-edge and floodplain.
- Permanent structures banned within the floodplain; eco-friendly materials mandated.
- Parking facilities to be outside floodplain as per NGT directives.
A significant revision to the Yamuna cycle track project has been mandated by the National Green Tribunal's principal committee. The committee has directed the Delhi Development Authority to realign the proposed track, ensuring that vulnerable river-edge stretches and the floodplain remain free from permanent constructions. This strategic rerouting will extend the first phase's length from approximately 22km to 24.15km, incorporating loops and stretches along existing embankments and bunds above high flood levels.
Officials highlighted that the revised project must strictly avoid permanent structures within the floodplain. Most of the cycle track is now planned to be situated above the highest flood levels, with any necessary amenities to be constructed using eco-friendly materials. Furthermore, the NGT committee has instructed the DDA to provide adequate parking facilities for the entire project located outside the floodplain.
Experts had previously warned against introducing infrastructure susceptible to flood damage. The committee acknowledged that developments within the floodplain, including cycle tracks or commercial ventures, risk being submerged, washed away, or buried under sediment during heavy monsoons due to the river's erosive power. The DDA is exploring development options outside the embankment, adhering to NGT's directives to ensure the protection of the floodplain while still enhancing public access and green mobility.
