BRT redux? Govt, police fight over new lane

Thursday, 13 May, 2010


The ghost of BRT seems to be revisiting the Capital as heated exchanges are being traded between the Traffic Police and Delhi government over the plan to build a non-motorised vehicle lane along the Bhisham Pitamah Marg leading to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Like the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor, the non-motorised lane (NML), also being pushed by the Transport Committee, will be separated from the rest of the road with a physical barrier—a divider painted in red.

After the Traffic Police stalled the ongoing work, L-G Tejinder Khanna ordered a joint inspection along with Delhi Traffic Police, PWD and other town planners to sort out the issue.

The trouble started when the PWD built the divider to create the lane without consulting the Traffic Police. "We came to know only after construction work started. They did not consult us at the planning stage at all," said a senior Traffic Police officer. The Traffic Police immediately moved to stop the work and informed the L-G, who called a meeting on April 29 and asked the PWD to stop work.

The PWD's plan is to build a 2.6-metre lane along with a footpath. There will be two lanes available for motorised vehicles. "With the footpath and NMV lane there is hardly any space left for the motorised vehicles. This will lead to major traffic chaos and it will be difficult for us to manage it later on," added a senior traffic police officer.

The government, however, is preparing its ground against the Traffic Police. "Already more than one lane of the road is encroached by parked cars. By this plan we are actually sorting out the area in a better manner. The cars will be parked at parking space built on Kushak Nullah. While the existing encroached space will be converted into non-motorised vehicle lane," said Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta. Sources said Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was also piqued by the Traffic Police stand.

"Studies indicate that two lanes can easily accommodate 3,428 PCUs (passenger car units), while at Bhisham Pitmah Marg it is only 2,400 PCUs at peak hours. So there is no question of chaos. Also, we are maintaining international standards of road width," said Pradeep Sachdeva, who designed the lane as well streetscaping of the road.

In fact, the Traffic Committee, which is working on an action plan for the city, has suggested non-motorise vehicle lanes all over the Capital. The committee has members from all fields and is headed by the Chief Secretary. "The Traffic Police is here to enforce laws, not to make them. How can they stop work on something which is part of the Delhi's masterplan," said committee member Madhu Kishwar.

Original news source http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/brt-redux-govt-police-fight-over-new-lane/618128/