One of the brains behind Delhi’s BRTS (bus rapid transit system) has temporarily had to relinquish the privilege of driving around in a Mercedes. With so many countries in the world, there are bound to be precedents somewhere. We have been told that 80 cities in the world have successfully experimented with BRTS, Bogota being most widely cited. It has a population of 7 million (8 million if the extended metropolitan area is included) and a population density of 3914 per sq km. It also has dedicated bicycle paths, with a total length of 303 km covered by these networks.

Delhi has a population of 13 million (22 million if the extended metropolitan area is included) and a population density of 7758. Barring the Metro (Mass Rapid Transit System), it has dedicated tracks for nothing, including ubiquitous tractors. Tractors are covered by the Motor Vehicles Act. How many tractors roaming around Delhi have registration plates? The point is that one should start with the presumption that laws are not meant to be enforced in Delhi, including those on old cars, 27-year-old Mercs included. Cops are too busy with VIP security. Delhi has 4.9 million private vehicles, including 3.3 million two-wheelers, and that figure, from the latest Delhi government Economic Survey, is two years old. There are 5.2 million commercial vehicles.

The private car figure translates into 85 cars per 1000 population. The national average is 8 cars per 1000 population. Roads, elevated road corridors, flyovers and bridges apart, planning for public transport in Delhi has meant the Metro, Regional Rail Network, restructuring of the DTC and the now controversial High Capacity Bus System (HCBS). Edward Lorenz, the father of chaos theory, died recently. If one HCBS corridor could lead to such chaos, imagine what would happen if all seven corridors were simultaneously unleashed.

... contd.