India, Oct. 4 -- Built along a key artery of Mumbai's water supply system, the cycling track along the Tansa water pipeline ends in an anticlimactic letdown.

Originally envisioned in 2017 by the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government to stretch 36 km, encroachments and resultant court cases have reduced it to a mere 18.6 km-beginning in Mulund West and ending in Bhandup, where it splits towards Sion and Sahar, Andheri.

For any cyclist using it, the ride is far from smooth, as the track is interspersed and interrupted by highways and railway crossings. Apart from uneven surfaces, residents have also said it is plagued by unauthorised encroachments, including shanties and roadside vendors. As a result, the track is largely unused by...