Cops’ spanner in BRT plans

The second phase of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) between Moolchand and Delhi Gate will not be operational any time soon as Delhi Traffic Police have raised certain objections.

The second phase of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) between Moolchand and Delhi Gate will not be operational any time soon as Delhi Traffic Police have raised certain objections.

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It has said the corridor will increase possibilities of road accidents.

After receiving the objections, the transport ministry has decided not to open the corridor without addressing the concerns. "The government is not in a hurry to implement the proposed BRT corridor. We are aware of the issues on that stretch and are getting them examined. That is why the project is on hold," said Arvinder Singh Lovely, Delhi Transport minister.

Earlier, the ministry had planned to open the BRT corridor before the ensuing Commonwealth Games.

"The cycle lane at some locations does not have physical segregation and moves along the bus lane which will make cyclists vulnerable to road accidents," said S. Nithianandam, Joint CP (Traffic).

It is important to note that road accidents on the BRT corridor from Moolchand to Ambedkar Nagar have increased drastically this year as nine fatalities have been reported till June 2010, as compared to just one in 2009.

In a recent letter to the Delhi Transport Department, the police have expressed concerns over the BRT's faulty construction. They have said the corridor will create chaos at several points, affecting the traffic flow right up to ITO, which is already congested.

According to the police buses plying through the corridor will create bottleneck near Defence colony Flyover when moving from centre lane towards extreme left lane.

The corridor will also likely to give vehicles a tough time while taking U-turn under Moolchand Flyover as buses will occupy the space.