PWD Minister Satyendra Jain seeks report on BRT Corridor

NEW DELHI: In a move that could ultimately lead to the controversial BRT Corridor, a flagship project of former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, being scrapped, PWD minister Satyendra Jain today sought a report from transport department about the sustainability of the corridor.

PWD, which is currently looking after operation and maintenance of the stretch, is in the process of preparing the report.

Sources said that AAP government has been contemplating of re-converting the 5.8 kms BRT corridor from Moolchand to Ambedkar Nagar into a normal road.

The government's move comes after five AAP MLAs including Greater Kailash MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj, whose constituencies fall along the corridor, had sought its removal on March 14.

In his letter to transport department, Jain had asked what was the idea behind the BRT corridor and it was achieved or not.

According to a senior government official, PWD has also asked what is the ultimate solution of current BRT corridor, which was introduced by the Sheila Dikshit-led government in 2008,

The corridor had led to massive traffic jams prompting demands from citizens that it be scrapped.

The BRT corridor from Ambedkar Nagar to Moolchand in south Delhi was opened on April 20, 2008 and was welcomed by environmentalists and several transport experts as a solution to Delhi's traffic woes.

However, poor implementation and bad planning resulted in massive traffic jams in lanes meant for private vehicles.

It has been embroiled in controversies since its inception.

Under the 'De-congest Delhi' project, transport department has planned to build five more BRT corridors in the national capital, but officials said the move would not leave any impact on new proposed corridors.

DIMTS used to look after the operation and maintenance of the existing BRT corridor, but government had in December handed over such works to PWD and Intelligent Signalling System (ISS) to Delhi Traffic Police.

Sheila Dikshit, who had been strongly defending the project despite widespread opposition to it, had in 2013 admitted that BRT was a mistake and that it would be dismantled if her party came to power.