No Bluelines on BRT pilot corridor from tomorrow

  • 30/04/2008

  • Pioneer (New Delhi)

Beginning Thursday, Blueline buses will not run on Ambedkar Nagar to Moolchand Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor. The move will affect almost thousands of daily commuters who commute on these Bluelines due to inadequate Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses. Presently, 80 Blueline buses ply on this corridor, ferrying thousand of passengers from the BRT stretch every day. "The Blueline buses have been given alternate routes. From May 1, they will start plying on those given routes. Meanwhile, these Blueline buses will be replaced by the 120 DTC low-floor buses on these routes. In addition to this, five DTC AC buses will ply here as well," said RK Verma, Transport Secretary-cum-Commissioner. Blueline buses plying on this corridor, include 419 (Dr Ambedkar Nagar to Old Delhi Railway Station), 423 (Devli Village to Mori Gate), 448 (Dr Ambedkar Nagar to Punjabi Bagh Terminal) and 522 (Arya Samaj Road to Dr Ambedkar Nagar Terminal). According to the transport department, the process of replacing Blueline buses by DTC low-floor buses is already nearing its end. "Already, we are plying in the dedicated bus lane without violating the rules and regulations here, still they are removing us. The Government first says that one should take training and then give us alternate routes. What are they actually trying to do here? This is just their excuse to remove Blueline buses from the Capital," said Shyam Lal, a Blueline bus driver plying on the stretch. Meanwhile, the commuters are at the receiving end as well. "Already this corridor is nothing short of chaos and confusion. The bus stops are constructed in the middle of the roads. First, we have to risk our lives to cross the road and reach these bus stops and then wait for endless time to catch the bus. What the Government is trying to do, is beyond me," said Shikha Sinha, a resident of Madangir.