Maken slams oppn for BRT criticism, points to Gujarat

Minister of state for Urban Development Ajay Maken slammed the BJP for maintaining double standards on issues ranging from Bus Rapid Transit to statehood for Delhi.

Minister of state for Urban Development Ajay Maken on Friday slammed the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) for maintaining double standards on issues ranging from Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to statehood for Delhi and regularisation of unauthorised colonies.

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Maken, who was also the transport minister in Delhi government, said the Narendra Modi government projected the BRT as its flagship achievement while the BJP in Delhi was gunning after the BRT in Delhi.

He said, “The Modi government had been constantly asking for more funds from the central government under the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission scheme. The central government gave Rs 343.71 crore to the state government to implement BRT in Ahmedabad, Rs 55 crore for Rajkot and Rs 243.51 crore for Surat. But in Delhi the BJP is talking about reviewing the BRT.”

He, however, said the BRT corridor concept was not wrong, though there were some technical faults. "There are some technical glitches due to which people are facing problems such as inadequate parking and bus stands, besides the way the roads have been segregated," he said.

The Lok Sabha member from New Delhi also attacked the BJP on the issue of full statehood status for Delhi and Master Plan 2021 which the party has, in its manifesto, promised to amend when it comes to power.

"The BJP is not clear how it is going to do it (amendment in MPD) and what all areas it want to be changed,” Maken said.