Allow all vehicles to ply on BRT: HC

Trial run to continue till final orders

The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the city government to allow all vehicles to use the bus lane in the BRT corridor between Ambedkar Nagar and Moolchand till it passes its final order.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw asked the transport department to continue with the Central Road Research Institute’s (CRRI) arrangement made during the experimental trial run on Bus Rapid
Transit (BRT) corridor  till it decides the issue after CRRI submits its final report.

The bench passed the order after a CRRI official, who was present in the court, told it that the traffic was smoother during the trial run. Delhi government counsel Zubeda Begum submitted to the court that it should wait till CRRI files its final report.

The bench directed the research institution to expedite its work and file a final report by July 12. The court’s direction came on the plea by Nyay Bhoomi, an NGO, for restoring the vehicle movement on the BRT corridor.

Meanwhile, the residents living in the colonies near the BRT corridor have welcomed the court decision. “We hope the court would come up with similar order in its final decision as it would bring relief to us,” said Praveen, a joint action committee member of the residents in the area.

The CRRI's trial run allowing all vehicles to ply on the BRT corridor between May 12 and May 23 this year was discontinued by the government. The NGO sought modification of its earlier order in which the bench had directed CRRI to re-open the trial run.

NGO Nyay Bhoomi had said the court should direct the transport department to restart the trial run rather than giving the task to the CRRI. Referring to the CRRI's interim report, the NGO said CRRI in its report had also given its nod to continue with the trial run on BRT corridor. The CRRI report had said the experimental trial run proved very effective and there was no traffic jam.

"The concept plan has received excellent response from the travelling public as well as appreciation by the print and electronic media," said the CRRI report.

The NGO recalled that on May 30 the court had left it to the discretion of CRRI about the period up to which the trial run should be continued and the road research institute has clearly stated that it should to be continued.

“The Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) Ltd has reverted to the previous system of movement from 24 May 2012 causing inconvenience to the public. It is also not as per the spirit of the court order,” said the petitioner.