After keeping the first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor along the central verge, the Delhi government is now looking at placing the corridor on the extreme left of the road.

In a presentation made to Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta on Wednesday evening, the Delhi Integrated Multi-modal Transit System (DIMTS) reportedly suggested that the 8-km corridor (both up and down) between Shastri Nagar and Karawal Nagar be built on the extreme left of the road. The proposed corridor on this stretch should not interfere with rest of the traffic, DIMTS, a special purpose agency entrusted with operation and maintenance of the existing corridor, suggested.

The detailed project report (DPR) for the corridor has been prepared by Advanced Logistics Group, a Spanish firm hired by DIMTS. Officials said the new corridor will be different from the existing corridor between Ambedkar Nagar and Delhi Gate — the dedicated bus lane runs along either sides of the central verge in the first section of the corridor till Moolchand, and along either sides of the entire road in the second section from Defence colony to Delhi Gate.

In the second corridor, while the bus corridors of both up and down sides of the stretch will be shifted to the left; rest of the traffic will move as it does now.

Officials said work on this stretch will start in another six or seven months.

Besides moving the dedicated bus lane to the left, officials said the new corridor will also have covered bus stations, as seen in countries like Colombia and Taiwan. Also, passengers will have to pay the fare at the station itself before getting into the low-floor bus, a senior government official said.

... contd.