At a time when elections for the state assembly are round the corner, uncertainty shrouds the dream project of Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit ? the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor. The project now faces flak from none other than her cabinet colleague, Finance minister Ashok Walia.
Walia has refused to approve additional funds of Rs 119 crore as demanded by the transport department for the next phase of BRT from Mool Chand flyover to Delhi Gate, citing poor planning as the main reason, a senior transport department official told Fe .
?The matter came up for discussion for the demand of Rs 119 crore before the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) headed by the Delhi finance minister Ashok Walia last Tuesday,? the official said. Walia is learnt to have vetoed the proposal saying that he will survey the first phase of the project himself and only then consider allocation of funds. The finance minister also sought an explanation from the officials of RITES, the consultants for the BRT, for the poor planning lack of smart signals and manning of strategic points which causes accidents every now and then.
When contacted, Walia said, ?I have ordered to release Rs 12 crore for construction of a parking lot and a portion of the road to help reduce the traffic load on the Moolchand-Ambedkar Nagar stretch.?
With regard to the transport department?s demand of Rs 46 crore for erection of a foot-over-bridge, Walia said, ?I have dismissed the demand and asked them what arrangements have been made for pedestrians at bus stops. The decision for release of funds will only be taken when the proper infrastructure will be created.?
It may be noted that the state finance department had sanctioned Rs 215 crore for the Ambedkar Nagar-Delhi Gate stretch. 50 per cent work on the project has already been completed on which Rs 115 crore have been spent.
After a slew of accidents on the BRT stretch caused a public furore, Dikshit had assured a review of the project and work was stopped three months ago. To complete the project, the state transport department had demanded additional funds.
?The additional finances are required to create additional public facilities such as laying cemented road between Press Enclave to Outer Ring Road, construction of three parking lots and coverage of drains, seven foot over bridges with lift and escalators and a bus terminal on Mehrauli-Badarpur Road . This involves an expenditure of over Rs 100 crore,? a transport department official said.