Hyderabad

Video: Hyderabad cycling track turned into ritual site, cyclists seek action

"The Healthway cycling track is one of the first in India. These incidents will only tarnish the image of Hyderabad," said cycling enthusiast Santhana Selvam.

Hyderabad: A group of people performed last rites on Hyderabad’s prestigious solar-covered cycling track along the ORR on Wednesday afternoon, December 10.

A visual of the incident emerged on social media where some people were seen performing the rites on the 23-kilometre cycling track, with some getting their heads tonsured, as part of the Hindu ritual.

When questioned, the group allegedly said they are acquainted with Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy and one of them introduced himself as a sarpanch.

Bicycle Mayor of Hyderabad, a cycling enthusiast posted on his X expressing concern. “Sincerely upset. Someone performing last (death) rituals in our Hyderabad cycling track. When we asked about it, he threatened that he is close to the CM and he is the Sarpanch in the locality. Requesting the leadership to support and save our world-famous, India pride and Hyderabad infrastructure gem. While we try to rise, we are being pulled down and back.”

Speaking to Siasat.com, Selvam called the incident an act of trespassing. “The Healthway cycling track is one of the first in India. These incidents will only tarnish the image of Hyderabad and affect its infrastructure in the future. There should be proper action,” he said.

The Healthway cycling track along the ORR was built with an estimated budget of around Rs 100 crore. It is divided into two stretches: an 8.5 km section, from Nanakramguda to Telangana State Police Academy (TSPA) and a 14.5 km stretch, from Narsingi to Kollur.

Opened 24 hours, it is completely solar energy driven, comprising about 16,000 solar panels, with a capacity of 16 megawatts (MW), allowing cyclists a smooth ride through the cityscape.

This post was last modified on December 10, 2025 5:21 pm

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Veena Nair

Veena Nair is the Online Editor at Siasat.com, where she primarily reports on religious and community-based hate crimes across India. She holds a degree from Sathyabama University, Chennai, and began her career as a software professional before pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media (IIJNM), Bengaluru. Before joining Siasat.com, Veena worked as a sub-editor at The New Indian Express in Coimbatore. Outside of journalism, she has a strong interest in theatre and has performed as an improv theatre artist in both Hyderabad and Bengaluru. A passionate observer of people, she is also a movie and music enthusiast, and a devoted cat mom

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