Dikshit admits flaws in BRT corridor project

By IANS,

New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Tuesday admitted to flaws in conceptualisation and implementation of the bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor between Ambedkar Nagar and Moolchand, whose trial run this month has seen traffic snarls in the capital.


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“There was a little bit of flaw in conceptualising and implementing the corridor project, but we are confident and determined to plug the loopholes before the construction on new corridors start,” Dikshit said at the annual session of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.

Speaking on ‘Capital of Tomorrow: Challenges and Way Ahead’, she said the planners did not anticipate the problems and quantum of vehicular traffic on the corridor, which was opened for test run April 20.

The first few days saw huge traffic pile-ups and chaos on the 5.6-km stretch. The traffic signals and signages did not work at all, drawing flak from users and political opposition leaders. Motorists, stranded on the stretch for hours on end amid scorching heat, called for immediately scrapping the project.

“There is a substantial improvement in the traffic flow now. I am personally monitoring the corridor. The bus riders, cyclists and pedestrians, accounting for 80 percent of the corridor users, are extremely satisfied,” she said in reply to a question from the audience.

“The choice is between the 80 percent users or those 20 percent motorists, who have problems in using the corridor. The government is working overtime to address their problems as well,” she said.

The corridor Tuesday saw traffic jams in the lanes for cars, bikes and autos. There were reports of traffic light failures too. The peak hours problems continued to haunt the commuters as a large number of vehicles use this road in south Delhi.

“Though migration continues to be a major challenge, we are beginning to change now for a better, green and clean city. The public transport is set for an overhaul. The private Blueline buses will be replaced by the high capacity buses either run by the government or the cooperative societies and trusts,” Dikshit said.

The chief minister said the capital would offer the best possible metropolitan facilities to the visitors when it will host the Commonwealth Games 2010, and infrastructure was accordingly being upgraded.

In reply to a question on the city’s preparations in terms of security to the visitors and other facilities during the Games, Dikshit said there would be a deficiency-free apparatus in place by 2010.

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