BRT bus lane open for all vehicles

In a big relief to the commuters on the BRT corridor in south Delhi, the Delhi High Court has asked the city government to allow all vehicles on the bus lane on the corridor, till it passes its final order on a petition on the issue.

The High Court is hearing a Public Interest Litigation, filed by an NGO Nyay Bhoomi, which has sought opening of the bus lane for all vehicles for smooth movement of traffic. The NGO has sought reinstating the vehicle movement on the BRT corridor, which was stopped by the city government after the experimental trial run by Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), in which all vehicles were allowed to ply on the lane meant for buses.

The court has asked the city government to continue with this arrangement made by by the CRRI during the experimental trial run of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor between Ambedkar Nagar and Moolchand from 12-23 May, till it decides the issue.

'The arrangement that was made during the trial run was smoother for the traffic,' a division bench of  Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said and posted the matter for 18 July.

Referring to interim report of CRRI which was filed after trial run, the NGO said CRRI in its report had also given its nod to continue with the trial run arrangemnet on BRT corridor.

CRRI in its report had said that the experimental trial run has proved very effective, almost all vehicles crossed during one cycle, there was no traffic jam and commuters took a sigh of relief.

'The concept plan has received excellent response from the travelling public as well as appreciation by print and electronic media,' CRRI report had said.

Vehicular movement on the controversial 5.8 km-long BRT corridor between Ambedkar Nagar and Moolchand in South Delhi had reverted to its original mode from midnight on 23 May. It was opened for mixed use on experimental basis, however, after reverting back to the original position, only buses, fire tenders and ambulances were allowed to use the bus lane.

Private cars, two-wheelers and other vehicles were allowed to ply on the bus lanes since 14 May as part of a study conducted by CRRI, which was tasked by the Delhi High Court to study traffic pattern on the stretch. CRRI had found that movement of traffic had improved when other vehicles were allowed to ply on the bus lanes.