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Delhi

Ambedkar Nagar to Delhi Gate BRT stretch handed over to PWD

Concerned over the traffic mess in the controversial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor, Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung on Friday handed over its operation and maintenance to Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) and Integrated Signalling System (ISS) to Delhi Traffic Police.

The Delhi Integrated Multi Modal Transit System (DIMTS), that was looking after the works related to BRT Corridor since its inception, has been removed by the government.

The DIMTS is a joint venture between the Delhi government and Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (IDFC), with each party having 50 per cent equity. The DIMTS came into being in April 2006 as an urban transport and infrastructure development company. It was later converted into a joint venture in 2007.

Marshals deployed on the BRT Corridor cost Rs 60 lakh a month and its managing authority has been funding it from the advertising revenue it generates.

Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi recently urged the state government to remove all deficiencies in the controversial BRT Corridor in the national Capital.

“The existing BRT Corridor from Ambedkar Nagar to Delhi Gate, a stretch of 14.5 km, has been
handed over to the PWD for all the purposes for its operations and maintenance,” said a letter.

“The Intelligent Signalling System (ISS) will be maintained by Delhi Traffic Police and the street lights on the Corridor shall be maintained by the PWD,” it added.

The letter further said that the revenue earnings from the bus queue shelters (BQS) would be paid to the Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation (DTIDC) and the maintenance of BQS would be looked after by the corporation.

Delhi Traffic Police have also earlier said that the bus stop in the middle of the road increases the risk for pedestrians, besides BRT layout leaves little space for maneuvering heavy traffic which results in snarls.

The Delhi BRT has remained controversy’s favourite child ever since its inception in 2008. Following the initial south Delhi corridor, a court case sealed the fate of the project and construction of 14 similar corridors was put on hold.

Delhi’s former Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, who was a strong supporter of the project, finally acknowledged its problems during the last election campaign and said it would be scrapped despite crores of public money being spent on building it.
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