By Swetha Anil Kumar
With the ‘Pune Grand Challenge Tour’ approaching, PMC has approved Rs 145 crore to upgrade the city’s cycling infrastructure. The international cycling race is recognised by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and the district collector’s office are organising the race together.
This is the first time India is hosting a professional multi-stage cycling race, marking a major milestone as far as Pune’s sports development is concerned. The 684-kilometer event scheduled for January 2026 will also be a qualifier for the next Olympics to be held in Los Angeles in 2028.
Out of the entire route, 75 kilometers will run through Pune City. From around 50 countries, cyclists are expected to participate, with 40 Indian riders, out of which 10 are from Maharashtra. Some preparations for the race have already started, and the condition of the roads is expected to be improved and completed in the next two to three months, officials confirmed.
The allocated funds will be used for asphalting, repairing chambers and pedestrian pathways, and removing encroachments along the designated cycling route, according to the proposal cleared by the Municipal Corporation’s Estimate Committee.
In 2017, PMC launched a comprehensive bicycle plan that aimed to create an 824-kilometer cycle network. This plan was to promote sustainable transport, reduce traffic congestion, and encourage fitness among residents. But no consistent efforts have been made to implement it and the progress on the plan has remained slow. As of today, only 35 km of fragmented and partially unusable cycling lanes have been developed.
Officials now say the new ₹145 crore allocation will prioritize upgrading existing roads along the proposed race route and ensuring safer, more accessible cycling lanes. As the Championship is an international event, the sports tourism of the city is expected to be boosted, with a lot of visitors coming.