While the Central and Delhi Government are continuously moving in the direction to create a world class transport system for the people in the national Capital, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) appears to be in a fix as the speed of the public transport buses in the city has reduced by 30 per cent due to traffic congestion caused by the expansion of flyovers and highways.
The speed limit of the DTC and clustered buses has reduced to 100 km from 130 km per eight hours. According to the DTC, previously a bus used to cover 15 km per hour in the morning and evening peak hours and covered up to 30 km per hour during the non-peak hours but now it has reduced to 12 km per hour in the peak hours and 15 km in the non-peak hours.
“The construction of the flyovers and expressways and other projects to develop the city is very good but at the same these projects have car-oriented infrastructures. Most of the flyovers in the city and expressways connecting neighbouring States, are designed without keeping the public transport users in the mind which creates a big chaotic situation for the public,” said a senior DTC official on the condition of anonymity.
Further, key reasons behind the reduction of the speed limit are narrow roads, no designated bus stops in the intersection and heavy jam due to the privately owned vehicles and also the condemned buses running in the fleet for the 10 years. “Out of lakh of private owned vehicles, the DTC has a force of 5,441 buses which play on 680 plus routes. Around 44 per cent of DTC buses are eight to 10 years old and most of them face break down which is also a reason behind the slowing of speed,” said the official.
Further, according to study by the Centre for Science and Environment, less than one per cent of DTC routes have frequency of one bus every five minutes during peak hours. less than 25 per cent DTC routes have frequency of one bus every 15 minutes. Rest of the routes has much longer waiting time. Almost 700 buses on any given day are not used, largely due to breakdowns.
Moreover, the DTC officials said many bus stops have been demolished to construct the flyovers, metro and highways. On many places the same has not been restored. Also, the bus shelters are located in a very un-designated places such where drivers never stop the buses. “Many of the bus stops are constructed under the flyovers or in the left carriage ways where the bus never stop. Three bus stops have been demolished in the Mayur Vihar during the construction of Delhi-Meerut-Expressway and have not been restored yet. From Sarai Kale Khan to Delhi Gate there is no clarity for bus stands and that results in people either going in middle of the road to take the bus or walk miles to take a bus,” added the official.
Further, the DTC observed that there is no clarity on bus stops constructed in the stretch of the flyovers such as in Punjabi Bagh, Raja Garden, South Extension, Naraina Ring Road, Bhikaji Cama Place, Outer Ring Road, Mayur Phase-II, Mubarak Chowk by-pass Anand Vihar, Akshardam (CWG), Srinivaspuri, Sarai Kale Khan to Delhi Gate, Gurudwara Khichdipur.
In a reality check done by The Pioneer at South Extension, Naraina Ring Road, Gail Bhikaji Cama Place, South Ex, Raj Nagar stop in Africa Avenue road, people lives have been put in danger as they could be seen jumping around in the middle of the road to board the bus to reach their destinations.