Delhi BRTS Snapshot

Delhi will try out two versions of BRTS in the pilot project between Ambedkar Nagar and Delhi Gate.The government also made some changes to avoid the public outcry that erupted after the Ambedkar Nagar-Moolchand stretch was thrown open. IIT-Delhi, so far the guiding force behind the bus corridor, has now been shown the door. Instead, UK-based consultant Mott MacDonald is in.“We did not have a detailed project (DPR) report for the Ambedkar Nagar-Moolchand stretch and we faced flak for that,” Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta said. “This time, we are ensuring that each stretch has a DPR. Mott MacDon ald will carry out the DPR for our next two stretches.” About IIT-Delhi being shown the door, a senior government official said, “There were several glitches in the first stretch. We will avoid those in our other corridors.” The government is also treading carefully on selection of routes. A senior transport official said: “We have chosen two non-controversial routes for our next two corridors — from Jahangirpuri to ISBT, which will run along Ring Road, and Seemapuri (Ghonda) to Lajpat Nagar. For these, we don’t expect the kind of outcry that was seen in the Chirag Delhi stretch.” As a third precaution, the government is carrying out an extensive survey of these routes and taking public opinion regarding the BRT. The Urban Mass Transit Company (Limited), under the Union Urban Development Ministry, will do this survey. The BRT is also likely to be the first project to be linked to the government’s automated fare collection system. Under this system, commuters will have to buy a single ticket applicable for city buses as well as Delhi Metro. The system comprises automated tickets for government-run buses, trains and ferries in several countries.Chief Secretary Mehta said, “Families below the poverty line with biometric identity cards can use them as tickets.” DIMTS asked to pull up its socks DIMTS faced the flak at a recent Transport department meeting for its failure to implement the BRT efficiently, as also lagging behind on the automated fare collection system, sources said. Sources added that the government has asked DIMTS to improve its “corporate and public image”.