Tendering Process Begins; Work In Two Phases At A Cost Of Nearly Rs 12cr The capital's misadventure with the BRT corridor may finally come to an end with the city government set to start dismantling it from early January . PWD has started the tendering process and work will take place in two phases at an approximate cost of Rs 10 crore to Rs 12 crore. The project was constructed at a cost of Rs 190 crore and sources said it took an additional Rs 15crore to Rs 18 crore to maintain it since 2008. “The first phase will involve removal of obstructions, such as dividers, bus stops, etc. In the second phase, which is costlier and will take longer, we will have to redesign junctions and install a new signaling system. We have already appointed a consultant for the redesigning work and will take residents on board before finalizing a plan,“ said PWD minister Satyendar Jain. Ever since the government announced its intention of dismantling the 5.8kmlong corridor, the traffic on the stretch has gone completely haywire with hardly any rules being followed. The marshals who earlier manned the stretch disappeared several months ago. Since the road was designed to facilitate smooth passage of buses, there are no fixed corridors for vehicles, which now drive in anywhere, from the bus lane to the cycle and pedestrian tracks. It's not uncommon to find up to eight lanes of traffic moving in one direction on the four-lane road. This has resulted in an almost perpetual traffic jam in the area.Jain said he would speak to Delhi traffic police about the issue. The government is simultaneously planning elevated BRT corridors for which a study has been commissioned. Sources said the existing stretch from Moolchand and Ambedkar Nagar that came up in 2008 was a victim of poor planning. “It might have made tra “It might have made tra velling by bus on this stretch easy , but the poor road design and signaling system made it extremely dangerous for other users, including pedestrians. There were daily jams, which only made the pollution levels worse. While the government is committed to improving the public transport system, we cannot allow such a poorly planned project to remain,“ said a government official. Once the BRT corridor is dismantled, the road space that opens up will be sufficient for a six-lane road, with three lanes on each carriageway , open to both public and private. “Work will include not just dismantling, but also resurfacing of the road. Stretches will have to be closed, but work will be taken up in parts so that commuters are not inconvenienced,“ said sources.