New Delhi – The Supreme Court of India on Monday expressed skepticism over the feasibility of constructing dedicated cycle tracks across the country, emphasizing that when states struggle to provide affordable housing and clean drinking water, prioritizing such infrastructure projects may be misplaced.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjwal Bhuyan made the observation while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the development of separate cycle tracks nationwide. The court urged the petitioner to reconsider priorities and focus on more pressing societal challenges.
"People Lack Basic Amenities, and We Are Dreaming of Cycle Tracks"
Addressing the petitioner, the bench remarked: "Go to the slums and witness the conditions in which people live. States do not have funds for affordable housing, yet we are envisioning cycle tracks. People are struggling for basic amenities, and you are daydreaming about such projects."
The court further underscored the importance of Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, stating: "We must get our priorities right. People lack access to clean drinking water, government schools are shutting down, and yet we are discussing cycle tracks?"
Petition Calls for Nationwide Cycle Tracks
The PIL, filed by Davinder Singh Nagi, a cycling advocate, urged the government to construct dedicated cycle tracks across the country to promote sustainable transportation. His legal counsel argued that many states already have cycling infrastructure, citing the presence of a cycle track outside one of the Supreme Court's gates as an example.
Referring to the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme, the petitioner’s counsel emphasized that urban infrastructure development should include provisions for cycling tracks. However, the court remained unconvinced, reiterating the need to prioritize fundamental issues before considering such initiatives.
The hearing highlighted the ongoing debate between urban development aspirations and pressing socio-economic challenges, with the judiciary urging a more pragmatic approach to national infrastructure planning.
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