With a combined revenue outlay of Rs 3,943 crore, the transport sector has emerged as a major priority area for the Delhi Government ever since it came to power. last year as well, Rs 3695 crore were allocated to transport sector, second only to education.
The Government has combined the budgetary allocation for road infrastructure with public transport with the two collectively accounting for around 19 per cent of the total Plan Outlay in the financial year 2016-17. Out of this, Rs 1,735 crore is allocated for public transport and Rs 2,208 crore for road infrastructure.
In his plan to boost public transport, Sisodia proposed elevated BRT corridors, purchase of new buses (including luxury buses), redesigning of existing PWD roads, revamping of existing ISBTs and construction of a new ISBT, boost to e-rickshaws and completion of ongoing road infrastructure projects at the earliest. Dedicated non-motorised vehicle lanes and footpaths on both sides of outer ring road from Vikaspuri to Wazirabad are also proposed.
Expressing worry about the large number of vehicles causing extreme congestion, environmental pollution and an “alarming level” of road accidents, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said his Government is committed to provide robust, sustainable, safe, accessible, integrated and multi-modal public transport system in Delhi.
While the Government plans to procure 3,000 new buses by the end of this year including 1,000 luxury premium buses, it also proposed to renovate and modernise the ISBTs at Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar during this financial year. A new ISBT at Dwarka is also proposed to be constructed. The Government allocated Rs 325 crore for purchase of buses and development of bus terminals.
The Government also allocated Rs 763 crore for Delhi Metro which is expected to increase its ridership from 27 lakh to 41 lakh after the completion of phase III expected to be completed in December.
“Redesigning of 11 roads will be done in 2016-17 as a pilot project. Under this project, street furniture including glass lifts, toilet blocks, plantations, solar powered street lights and rain water harvesting systems will be provided. later on, it will be extended to entire 1260 kms of PWD roads,” Sisodia said. He said while the Government the elevated road over Barapullah Nallah phase II will become functional before March 2017.