Now, third model for BRT corridor

Tuesday, Oct 06, 2009

Even as the fate of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor from Ambedkar Nagar to Delhi Gate remains uncertain, the government has finalized a third design for the next corridor being planned in northeast Delhi from Shastri Park to Karawal Nagar. 

This time, the government has come up with a new model in which buses in both the directions will run on one side of the existing road. Sources said this will help provide an exclusive passage for buses without disturbing traffic on the main road. 

In the new model, the existing road will not be disturbed. The 15-km stretch from Shastri Park to Karawal Nagar runs along Yamuna Pushta, where the land is largely for agricultural use. The plan is to widen the road from this side by about 8 metres and construct a dedicated corridor for buses on one side of the road. By doing this, the problems faced in the existing corridor traffic snarls due to road space being eaten into by the dedicated bus lane in the first model (Pilot A from Ambedkar Nagar to Moolchand) and then conflict of vehicles turning into establishments along both sides of the corridor in Pilot B (Moolchand to Delhi Gate) will not be encountered. 

After burning its fingers with two BRT different models on the pilot corridor, in which buses run on the extreme right (Pilot A) and extreme left lane (Pilot B) of the main road, the government has decided not to go ahead with either for the next BRT corridor. "The new model will have the bus lanes on the side of the road where there is no habitation,'' said an official. 

The new model will be a close-loop BRT, where the transport department will have the advantage of adding as many buses as possible. The bus lane will be created by widening the existing road. Also, footpaths will be redone and cycle tracks will be added. The transport department anticipates problems at three intersections Khajuri Khas, Shastri Park and Bhajanpura during construction, which will also get sorted out once the bus lane is constructed. The corridor will have 30 bus stops and there is a proposal to extend it to Bhajanpura and Gandhi Nagar. The corridor will also have automated ticketing at all bus shelters. 

The major difference in this corridor and the existing one is the population demographics of the road. According to a survey, the share of non-motorized vehicles like cycles and cycle rickshaws is as high a 53.8% here, while the share of private cars ranges between 12-16%. The number of two wheelers (seen as prospective bus users) is also very high as it ranges between 21.8 and 42.5% on the road. The survey took into account traffic on Gandhi Nagar Road, GT Road, Shastri Park-ISBT Road, Yamuna Marginal Bund Road and Wazirabad Road. 

A detailed project report (DPR) has been prepared by DIMTS and sent to the government for sanction of funds. The cost of the new BRT model has been worked out to Rs 20 crore per kilometre, including all the systems, which is about the same as the existing models. Sources said the corridor will become operational only after the Commonwealth Games.

Original news source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/delhi/Now-third-model-for-BRT-corridor/articleshow/5091610.cms