Work on exclusive corridor for buses gathers speed

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Soon, travelling in MTC buses on a few stretches in Chennai city would be a delight for commuters, as the bus carrying them would zoom past SUVs and sedans plying on other lanes with ease.

The state government is now seriously contemplating introducing a bus rapid transit system (BRTS) in the city that would enable the buses to ply on a dedicated lane.

This would make travel easier and swifter for bus passengers on identified stretches considering the traffic mess on Chennai roads.

According to highly placed sources in the government, the BRTS proposal has gained pace over the past few weeks with transport officials summoning NGOs involved in transportation activities, besides conduction intra-departmental meetings.

Sources told Deccan Chronicle soon after Wednesday’s meeting held at the Secretariat that the scheme would be implemented on a few corridors constituting a total length of about 80 km.

“The government is considering to link the BRTS with the existing public transport services like MRTS and with the stations proposed under monorail and metro rail schemes,” said an official.

However, the scheme would be taken up for 50 km length in initial phase on stretches including OMR. But, it would require lots of work including providing dedicated lanes for buses and enabling easy access to the commuters.

Though the officials are ‘uncertain’ about the stretches that are going to have the BRTS, they are positive about the scheme being implemented on OMR and GST road.

The department has been studying both the reports of CMDA that envisages 80 km of BRT in Chennai and that of Ahmedabad-based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).
“The stretches will be finalized only after Chief minister’s approval,” sources pointed out.