Process of dismantling BRT gathers pace after Delhi government approves Rs 11 crore to scrap project

New Delhi: The process of dismantling the defunct Bus Rapid Transport Corridor in Delhi picked up pace after the state transport department agreed to foot the Rs 11 crore rupee bill to scrap the project.

Delhi government on Tuesday had approved an estimate of around Rs 11 crore to scrap the controversial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor in South Delhi built by the previous Sheila Dikshit dispensation for around Rs 150 crore to encourage public transport.

In July 2015, the Arvind Kejriwal government had taken decision to dismantle the 5.8 km-long corridor from Ambedkar Nagar to Moolchand. "Delhi Cabinet has approved a proposal to scrap the BRT corridor at a cost of around Rs 11 crore," said a senior government official.

According to the government official, Delhi BRT model "failed" but it was necessary to regulate traffic and strengthen public transport. The existing BRT corridor faced severe criticism since its inception in 2008 but then Chief Minister Dikshit had strongly defended the project.

The BJP had also demanded scrapping of the BRT corridor and had promised to dismantle it in its vision document for the Delhi assembly polls earlier this year.