Indian Express 26.05.2010
Finally, dedicated lanes for BEST buses
The agencies looking after transport and infrastructure of Mumbai have agreed to construct dedicated lanes for Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses on the Western and Eastern Express Highways and the Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR).
In a meeting on Monday, officials of the Mumbai Transformation Support Unit (MTSU), Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and BEST gave their in-principle approval for constructing dedicated lanes for BEST buses.
“It was not possible to have Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS). Hence, we are concentrating on a separate lane for BEST buses. Apart from BEST buses, schoolbuses and ambulances would be allowed to use these lanes,” said SVR Srinivas, additional metropolitan commissioner.
In May, state transport minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil had asserted the need of having dedicated lanes for BEST buses and other public transport systems. Interestingly, the MMRDA that had carried out the feasibility study for the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) had backtracked saying that BMC and BEST should execute the project owing to the high-cost factor.
A committee comprising officials from BMC, BEST, MMRDA and police department has been formed to study the details of the project. “The committee will decide on what material should be used to have a separate lane for BEST buses,” said Srinivas. Problems are anticipated especially at the crossovers on these dedicated lanes.
The MMRDA has agreed to fund the dedicated lanes project which may cost Rs 25-30 crore. “If the committee recommends building some structures, the cost is likely to increase,” Srinivas said.
The dedicated lane project is may help improve the public transport system by making it speedy and reducing the load of the road traffic during peak hours.
