Govt defends BRT project

  • 15/05/2008

  • Asian Age (New Delhi)

The Delhi government is fighting tooth and nail to save its high-profiled Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) project. In a presentation given to the urban development ministry, the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transport System (DIMTS) painted a rosy picture of the BRT corridor and assured that the teething problems will be tackled soon. This is to be noted that the urban development ministry is planning to develop BRT corridors across the country in major cities. The meeting has been called to discuss the BRT in wake of the public ire about growing traffic mess at the corridor and increasing number of accidents. The DIMTS claimed that the first stretch from Moolchand to Ambedkar Nagar has apparently improved. However, it can be made better at various fronts including road curvature, islands at lane exits, bus platform features, vehicle break-down, jaywalking, increased signal timings due to heavy traffic and structural damage to installations due to errant driving etc. According to a senior DIMTS official, "The merits and demerits of the BRT stretch were discussed. We tried to make it clear that with the help of intelligence signals, we will be able to improve the corridors. Once the intelligence signals are installed, we will be able to deliver smooth traffic flow during peak hours, which is not the case at this moment. The long queues of cars and motorbikes can be tackled only through intelligence signalling system to automate the whole process." During the presentation, it was noted that the heavy traffic flow in the motorised vehicle lane sometimes create long queue which increases the waiting time at one signal from two-three minutes to five-eight minutes. The damage to the BRT structure by errant drivers was also discussed during presentation.