The 23-kilometre cycling track, which goes by the name HealthWay, will be accessible around-the-clock, 365 days for citizens from 2 October.
This is the world's second solar track, the first one is in South Korea. (Ajay Tomar/South First)
If you had travelled from Nanakramguda to Narsingi via Hyderabad’s Outer Ring Road (ORR) over the past year, your eyes must have caught the under-construction pathway adjacent to the expressway, extending several kilometres.
The pathway, which has been built as a cycling track, goes by the name HealthWay. It is India’s first and the world’s second solar-roof cycle track.
Seen as a major boost to the city’s cycling fraternity and fitness enthusiasts, the 23-km cycling track — 46 km round trip — was thrown open to citizens around-the-clock, 365 days a year, on Monday, 2 October.
From youngsters to the elderly, several beaming and excited faces were eagerly waiting for the track to finally open to public as Telangana MA&UD Minister KT Rama Rao inaugurated the facility a day earlier.
The ₹100-crore cycling track project of the Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited (HGCL) and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has been designed and executed by Hyderabad-based KMV Projects Limited.
Route map of the cycling track. (Ajay Tomar/South First)
Inspired by South Korea’s solar bike highway running between Daejeon and Sejong cities, a significant feature of the Hyderabad track is the solar panel fixed roofs that will also supply eco-friendly and sustainable energy for the project.
The 23-km track has two stretches — the blue line goes from Kollur to Narsingi (14.5 km) and the pink line goes from Nanakramguda to Telangana State Police Academy (8.5 km).
The track, which is only to be used for cycling, has three lanes of 1.5 m each to provide a two-way route and ease in overtaking.
Along the route, the HMDA has built five access points that provide amenities such as car and bicycle parking, food stalls, cycle repair shops, rental stations, first aid stations, and rest areas.
A total of 50 CCTV cameras have been installed at several points, including entries and exits, that will be monitored by the police.
Future plans include bicycle rental agencies, health food, and retail kiosks, enriching the cycling experience. Phase 2 of the project envisions a sporting arena including football, cricket, and other sports’ venues.
In the future, the HMDA also plans to connect the HealthWay cycling corridor with Hyderabad’s other roads to encourage people towards a non-motorised transport (NMT) system.
A total of 16,000 solar panels have been installed in 18 days, marking it a new record in the industry.
The HealthWay solar-cycle track. (Ajay Tomar/South First)
The panels will also fulfill the power requirements of Hyderabad’s widely used Outer Ring Road (ORR). They will light up the golden LED lights placed along the track, generate power for the drip irrigation system, toll operations, and highway traffic management system.
“Traditionally, these many solar panels would require vast expanses of land, around 64 acres, to generate significant amounts of energy. However, the rooftop solar panel placing helps in using the space underneath for cycling,” an official from KMV Projects told South First.
He added, “The invested money for the whole project is likely to be recovered in a span of maybe 15 years; six years for the solar panels alone. We are saving land and generating power, which makes it naturally sustainable. The roof ensures protection from the Sun, rain, and pollution, and also avoids accidents.”
The dual-purpose structure addresses not only the need for renewable energy but also promotes healthy and eco-friendly transportation options.
However, the elevated solar panel installation at the ORR had its own set of challenges. “Hyderabad experiences around 40 days of low power production due to varying radiation levels. However, the system is designed to compensate for these fluctuations, ensuring reliable energy generation for the remaining 11 months,” the KMV official said.
A large crowd of people, primarily cyclists, gathered for the inauguration. (Ajay Tomar/South First)
Another significant challenge faced by the team was the changing terrain, leading to varying levels of height on the road.
“To overcome this, the team used a 3D model of the terrain to ensure the roof’s continuity. The complex task of joining the beams required precision engineering and fabrication was done on-site to meet the unique structural demands,” the official said.
Key features of this remarkable installation reportedly include V-shaped columns in MS steel guarding the cycling path and GI roofing sheets with anodised coating, sourced from a factory in Ahmedabad and fabricated on-site.
“Collaboration with experts from leading Indian educational institutions — Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, and Osmania University’s College of Engineering — was done to customise the design of panels and create modular pieces,” the KMV official explained.
An enthusiastic 64-year-old Subhash Pandey from Koti recollected the days when he used to cycle to college — from Koti to Saifabad, “This track reminds me of that nearly 24-km ride. There used to be space for cycling during those days (1970s and 1980s). My father used to go to the office by cycle every day.”
Minister KTR riding a cycle at the new track. (Ajay Tomar/South First)
He spoke about a recent visit to his physician. “The other day, I went to the doctor for an ECG check-up. While checking me, he said that my heart is young. This has been possible through cycling, walking, and jogging. It helps me stay fit and energetic. I diligently follow these three mantras,” Pandey told South First.
Santhana Selvan of the Hyderabad Cycling Revolution (HCR), a group of around 10,000 cyclist members, told South First how the project started.
“Around last year, famous climate activist Erik Solheim from Norway had tweeted about South Korea’s world-class track with solar panels. KTR sir reacted to it, asking why we (Hyderabad) don’t have one. Here, we have a huge number of cycling lovers and they have bonded over time to become a community. I am one of them. So our presence can be widely seen in Hyderabad and the demand to built such tracks is there,” explained Selvan, who is famously known as the “bicycle mayor of Hyderabad” on X.
Solheim, former executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and founder of the Green Belt and Road Initiative, who undertook a trail run at the cycling track with Special Chief Secretary of the MA&UD Department Arvind Kumar, took to X to admire the unique track and KTR.
Wonderful! Hyderabad 🇮🇳 Solar Roof Cycling Track!
Telangana dynamic leader @KTRBRS saw a tweet I made showcasing such a track in Korea. He asked people if this could be done in India? In the next few days the tracks will open!!
So glad to make a try run with @arvindkumar_ias pic.twitter.com/VmsQrufD56
— Erik Solheim (@ErikSolheim) September 17, 2023
Graduate students Dolphina G and Sneha G from Miyapur were happy that cyclists could now avoid vehicular traffic and travel smoothly. “We wish that, in the future, such a track is built near our house too,” they told South First.
“The innovative project sets an inspiring example of how forward-thinking technology with people’s collaboration can reshape our cities for a greener and more active future,” the KMV official said.
May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024
![[Left] File photo of BJP MLA Harish Poonja, who has been booked, and [right] Poonja sitting for a protest in front of Belthangady Police Station in the early hours of Sunday, 19 May, 2024.](https://s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media.thesouthfirst.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Harish-Poonja-and-Belthangady.jpg "Harish Poonja and Belthangady")
