Mumbai is finally getting down to implementing the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), which involves dedicated lanes for public and private buses. After the election code of conduct lapses, officials plan to begin the tendering process for various contracts in July. Initially, as a pilot project, there will be two Dedicated Bus Lanes (DBL), built at a cost of Rs 100 crore, along the Eastern and Western Express Highways. A full-fledged BRTS on these highways is expected to cost a minimum of Rs 1,500 crore, while the project planned for the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) would cost Rs 3,500 crore. The DBLs could take six months to complete, while the overall BRTS for the MMR could take a year-and-a-half. A report submitted in February by Consulting Engineering Services India Pvt Ltd has chalked out a plan for the MMR. The report was compiled on the directives of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and a state-level committee headed by chief secretary Johny Joseph. “We have received the report and held initial talks with the BEST and BMC on implementing the BRTS on the Eastern and Western Express Highways. We have assured the BEST and BMC expertise and planning support from the MMRDA,’’ said MMRDA chief Ratnakar Gaikwad. BEST chairman Uttam Khobragade said the undertaking is ready to ply buses on the routes. The announcement that Maharashtra’s quota of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission funds will be increased this year from Rs 5,050 crore to Rs 6,500 crore has also enthused BRTS planners. For the MMRDA, this means Rs 1,500 crore more for purchasing buses for Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane for the BRTS. After studying the BRTS failures of Delhi and Pune, the CESIPL report specifies that technical follies in designing junctions, signalling and traffic handling should be avoided. “In Delhi, it did not work initially because of mismanagement in handling private vehicles and wrong designing of junctions, stops and signalling. Speeding cars and pedestrians crossing bus corridors also resulted in several accidents at Delhi and Pune,’’ said an MMRDA engineer. “Pressure from the public, traffic experts and the judiciary to decongest Mumbai’s roads by at least 20% is also making the MMRDA and BEST give impetus to the BRTS plan,’’ said an MMRDA official. Transport experts like Sudhir Badami, Ashok Datar and Arun Mokashi and social workers like Nikhil Desai have strongly recommended the BRTS for all major arterial roads, pointing out that Delhi and Pune had overcome initial mistakes to implement workable systems, albeit at lesser potential. Recently, joint commissioner of police (traffic) Sanjay Barve told the MMRDA that bus lanes should not be physically segregated with dividers, but have spring pop-ups. The maximum speed on the highway DBLs will be 50 km per hour, as against 70 km per hour in Delhi and Pune. While initially the outer lanes will be DBLs, this could change later when the full BRTS comes into effect, an official said. S V Road, L B S Road, Sion-Panvel highway, Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road and Marine Drive may also get bus lanes.
1 The outer lanes on both sides of the road would be reserved for buses
2 Emergency vehicles, like fire engines and ambulances, would also use the lanes
3 Bus-stops would be in the roads’ shoulders, so when buses halt traffic isn’t affected
4 Aluminium, spring pop-ups, which take up less space than dividers, would demarcate the bus lanes
5 Traffic congestion on regular lanes is expected to drop by at least 25%
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