Delhi BRTS update

For those stuck every day in an endless wait for the traffic lights to turn green at the Chirag Dilli flyover along the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor, here's some good news. In an effort to reduce the waiting time -- which during peaks hours can be as long as ten minutes on places like Chirag Dilli junction -- the Delhi Integrated Multimodal Transit system (DIMTS) is setting up an Intelligent Traffic Management system which will be smart enough to gauge the traffic situation and direct signals to function accordingly. Explaining the concept, a senior Delhi government official said: "If there is less traffic on two arms of the point, while the other two are heavily jammed, the installed sensors will send a signal to traffic lights, switching the cycle."
There are 20 signal points along the 14.5 km BRT stretch between Ambedkar Nagar and Delhi Gate. The signals installed by CMS are currently run manually during peak traffic hours and automatically during lean hours -- like the rest of the city. "Traffic signals on the corridor will work in coordination, reducing waiting time along the stretch," he added. Since the BRT is conceptualised around prioritising public transport, officials said the signals will be designed to give priority to buses. The waiting time for these will be the least. The entire system will be monitored by a central control centre.
Officials added that the control room will also help track violators jumping signals and driving in wrong lanes. While government vehicles are reportedly the biggest violators along the corridor, driving in the wrong lanes, penalty for the violation is Rs 500. "Through a network of CCTV cameras to be installed as part of the system, we will be able to track violators and send their details directly to the traffic police," the official added.
Siemens -- the firm hired to develop the system for the entire corridor -- will replace the existing traffic signals along the corridor and install sensors and pedestrian signals.

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”.