Decision on dedicated bus corridor soon

The UT Administration will soon decide whether it is feasible to have dedicated bus corridors for the city roads. This will not only ensure smooth traffic movement but also reduce the pressure on the roads. For this,the Administration is likely to approach Punjab Engineering College and Indian Institute of Technology,Delhi for expertise. Inputs will also be taken from the engineering wing and the police on whether the project is feasible.

The proposal to introduce a bus rapid transport system and dedicated corridors for buses was part of the Comprehensive Mobility Plan,submitted by Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES). The plan also included a proposal to introduce Metro rail in the city. The report had stated that there was a need for multiple modes of transport to ensure better connectivity in Chandigarh.

According to UT Adviser K K Sharma: “The problem of traffic can be solved with multiple modes of transport. However,the heritage of the city as well as its green cover will be taken into account before any decision.”

Dedicated bus corridors are earmarked on the extreme left side of roads. Though work on a detailed project report for Metro rail is on,it is felt that if dedicated bus corridors are present at select places,it would give the residents other options of transportation. Chandigarh has one of the highest per capita vehicles. For a population of 10.54 lakh people,around 8 lakh vehicles are registered.