Focus on accessible transport system: Manish Sisodia

Two elevated BRT corridors, one along Anand Vihar Terminal to Peeragarhi and another from Wazirabad to IGI Airport, and four stretches of elevated corridors, one underground tunnel from NH-24 bypass to Lodhi Road, were among other key proposals presented by finance minister Manish Sisodia in his Budget for 2016-17. He stressed on creating an accessible public transportation system and said that if successful, the elevated BRT corridor model will be implemented across the city. A plan outlay of Rs 1,735 crore has been proposed for the public transport in the Budget.

The government also proposed to procure 1,000 new standard size UBS-II complaint low floor buses, 1,000 new cluster buses and an equal number of buses in premium category in the next fiscal. Mr Sisodia said that the buses will be introduced in the public-private-partnership model and new depots will be developed to accommodate these buses. A plan outlay of Rs 325 crore has been proposed for the purchase of buses and the development of bus terminals.

The Kejriwal government has also proposed to renovate the ISBTs at Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar with world-class amenities and has proposed to construct a new inter-state bus terminal at Dwarka. The government has proposed to construct 1,397 new bus queue shelters under the PPP mode. In a bid to improve the last-mile connectivity, the finance minister proposed to increase the fixed subsidy amount given to every registered e-rickshaw from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000. To promote the use of battery-operated vehicles, the AAP government will provide exemption to such vehicles from road tax.

Mr Sisodia also proposed Rs 763 crore for DMRC. Delhi Metro’s Phase III network is presently under construction, which will expand its network significantly. Also, 248 new mini-buses will be inducted in the next financial year, taking Metro’s fleet of feeder buses to 517 on 93 routes.

Pointing out that the roads in Delhi are flawed in design, Mr Sisodia said the AAP government will redesign and streetscape the roads to make them friendly for the cyclists and pedestrians. “To promote public transport, cycling and making streets friendly for pedestrians and physically-challenged people, redesigning of 11 road stretches will be taken up on a pilot basis. A planned outlay of Rs 2,208 crore has been proposed for the road infrastructure,” he said.