Turf war over BRT, claims petition

The turf war between Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and the Delhi government's transport department is delaying a decision on making the BRT corridor barrier-free, a petition submitted before the Delhi High Court said. Harish V Nair reports.

The turf war between Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and the Delhi government's transport department is delaying a decision on making the BRT corridor barrier-free, a petition submitted before the Delhi High Court said.

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The court had directed the CRRI to undertake a study on making the controversial stretch between Ambedkar Nagar and Moolchand hassle-free for traffic.

In May, the CRRI devised a trial run on the corridor, in which lanes meant exclusively for public transport vehicles were opened for private vehicles.

The trial run was conducted from May 8 to 16. After the CRRI submitted an interim report, the court left it to the CRRI to decide if the trial run should be continued as it had facilitated smoother flow of traffic.

The report said that the May 12 to 17 trial run proved effective and almost all vehicles crossed a traffic signal in one cycle and there was no jam.

Judges were of the view that the liberty to other vehicles may be granted till the CRRI study was completed.

But the petitioner, Lt Col BB Sharan, on Wednesday approached the court seeking a straight direction to the transport department.

He contended that since the court had asked the transport department to seek orders from the CRRI on continuation of the trial run, it has got stuck.

He sought a modification to the earlier order, demanding a direct order to the transport department.

"I have information that the CRRI had sent a letter to the government on May 30 to extend the trial run but the government, which is defending the BRT project, is not in a mood to follow it," he submitted before the court.

The high court bench comprising acting chief justice AK Sikri fixed a hearing on Thursday in this regard and directed the transport department, the CRRI to present their case before the court.