Delhi budget: Focus on new buses but BRT given a miss

NEW DELHI: With an allocation of Rs 3,702 crore, the transport sector has got the major part of the outlay in this year's budget. Yet, the budget doesn't make any new announcements, sticking to the old ones about renovation of inter-state bus terminals, more DTC buses, a larger cluster bus fleet and construction of the corridor over the Barapullah Nullah.

This year's budget allocation—less than last year's Rs 3,876 crore—again highlights the change in the government's priorities. While bus acquisition finds mention, there's no talk of bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor.

Fare integration with the Delhi Metro, with the introduction of the automated fare collection system, as well as renovation of the existing facilities at the ISBTs in Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar are among other highlights.

The lieutenant governor has earmarked funds for the acquisition of 400 new cluster buses, to bring the fleet up to 1,600 this financial year. This is besides the 1,380 buses that will be bought for the DTC fleet. The budget also promises that DTC's 1,300 old standard buses will be replaced this year.

There is a requirement of 11,000 buses in Delhi and, as per an agreement between DTC and DIMTS, both are mandated to run 5,500 buses each in the city. While DTC operates around 5,000 buses, DIMTS has only 1,157 cluster buses. The budget also mentions renovation of the zonal transport offices.

Funds havealso been set aside for the conversion of single-carriageway flyovers into dual carriageways in the city "due to rapid increase in volume of road traffic". Construction of some of the selected flyovers will be taken up on priority, the budget adds.

The ongoing phase-II of the elevated Barapullah corridor is also mentioned in the budget. "This elevated corridor will be extended from Sarai Kale Khan to Mayur VIhar under phase-III," it says.