Delhi government seeks time to study rapid bus corridor proposal

Stung by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) report against the Bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor, the Delhi government yesterday defended the project and sought time to study the report.

A division bench comprising acting chief justice A K Sikri and Rajiv Sahai Endlaw granted the government time till 23 July, making it clear however, that the interim arrangement of mixed traffic on bus lanes would continue.

Senior counsel KTS Tulsi, appearing for the transport department, said the government wanted to study the report and file a reply.

When the bench came out with a distant date and initially posted the matter for next month, Tulsi seeking an early hearing, referred to the CRRI report that said traffic moved 68 per cent faster without BRT, "Any interim order of this court will have an impact on the nationwide BRT project..."

CRRI, in its report to the transport department, cited an experimental run conducted on the Ambedkar Nagar - Moolchand corridor that lent support to the belief that letting other vehicles ply on the lane earmarked for buses was better for overall traffic movement.

CRRI had conducted a trial run as per the high court's directions and prepared a report based on the existing traffic volume. The high court had directed that the city government continue with the arrangement made by the CRRI during the experimental trial run on BRT between 12 May and 23 May this year till it decided the issue.