Tentative fuel loss due to BRT: Rs 2.48 crore

A report by the Central Road Research Institute says traffic congestion due to BRT corridor results in huge fuel losses, rise in accidents.

Fuel worth Rs 2.48 crore could be lost each year by cars stuck in jams on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stretch between Ambedkar Nagar and Moolchand, said a report by Central Road Research Institute (CRRI).

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In a damning assessment of the BRT corridor, the CRRI said introduction of the exclusive bus lanes on the stretch resulted in an increase in the accidents.

The CRRI, in its final feasibility report submitted before the Delhi High Court on Monday, said a comparison of road crash data indicated a rise of accidents on the stretch by 40% and a 48% increase in fatalities.

The 200-page report, collated after opening all lanes for all kinds of vehicles, said: "The value of fuel loss due to continuation of BRT corridor was calculated by taking the difference between normal BRT operations and the trial run. It came around Rs 2.48 crore per annum. This estimated monetary loss is for cars alone and when other vehicles are considered, the loss could be much higher."

During the trial run, the report said, fuel loss due to traffic congestion reduced by 32% in case of petrol vehicles while for diesel vehicles it went down up to 46%.

Also, the travel time was reduced by 41% and the delay by 50%, the report said. The CRRI also recommended construction of signals, foot overbridge or subways at six intersections — Ambedkar Nagar, Pushpa Bhawan, Sheikh Sarai, Chirag Dilli, Siri Fort and GK-I.

The CRRI undertook the study on a direction by the Delhi high court, which is hearing PIL by Colonel BB Sharan of NGO Nyaybhoomi. The PIL had demanded either the scrapping of the corridor or removal of exclusive bus lanes.