Dedicated bus lanes to be back

Dedicated bus lanes to be back
Deccan Herald

A few failed attempts notwithstanding, the “dedicated bus lane” will make a re-entry on the gridlocked City roads.

A few failed attempts notwithstanding, the “dedicated bus lane” will make a re-entry on the gridlocked City roads.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force, along with the Bangalore Development Authority, plans to introduce a bus corridor on the 30-km stretch connecting the Central Silk Board Junction to Hebbal on the Outer Ring Road. It is likely to be implemented in the next four to five months.

According to Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) Managing Director Imtiaz Ahmed, the corridor will have two lanes and is likely to be located along the central median. RITES and the Infrastructure Development Corporation of Karnataka (IDECK) are conducting technical and cost studies of the planned route. To be modelled on the lines of the Bus Rapid Transport System planned for New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Indore, the lane is proposed to be kept on the right side of the carriageway to reduce interruption to other moving traffic.

“With Bangalore’s traffic being mixed in nature, buses should be removed from the rest to ensure faster travel. As autorickshaws and private vehicles stop at the left hand side of the road, we propose to design the corridor towards the centre,” Mr Ahmed said.

Barriers will be installed to prevent intrusion by other vehicles into the corridor.

Decision regarding having the lane on the left-hand side or right-hand side of the carriageway will be finalised at a coordination meeting likely to be held among the Urban Development Department, BMTC, BDA, IDECK and RITES shortly.

Meanwhile, BMTC Chief Traffic Manager Dastagir Sharief has suggested that service roads that run parallel to the main road on this stretch could be utilised for forming a dedicated corridor.

However, Mr Ahmed said that the RITES might not recommend such a design as it wanted to retain the nature of ‘neighbourhood’ service roads and not convert them into a corridor.

Hi-tech traffic junctions

Uniquely designed traffic junctions will be set up to ensure faster pass-through for buses. Stoppages will be located near junctions, and junctions will be designed to allow 2.5 metres width of the dividing median for bus stops.

“We are looking at creating a bus laning system that will encourage people to switch from private vehicles to public transport. This lane will make buses move faster and will be convenient for commuters,” said Mr Ahmed.Dedicated bus lanes to be back
By Shubha Narayanan
DH News Service Bangalore:
A few failed attempts notwithstanding, the “dedicated bus lane” will make a re-entry on the gridlocked City roads.

A few failed attempts notwithstanding, the “dedicated bus lane” will make a re-entry on the gridlocked City roads.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force, along with the Bangalore Development Authority, plans to introduce a bus corridor on the 30-km stretch connecting the Central Silk Board Junction to Hebbal on the Outer Ring Road. It is likely to be implemented in the next four to five months.

According to Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) Managing Director Imtiaz Ahmed, the corridor will have two lanes and is likely to be located along the central median. RITES and the Infrastructure Development Corporation of Karnataka (IDECK) are conducting technical and cost studies of the planned route. To be modelled on the lines of the Bus Rapid Transport System planned for New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Indore, the lane is proposed to be kept on the right side of the carriageway to reduce interruption to other moving traffic.

“With Bangalore’s traffic being mixed in nature, buses should be removed from the rest to ensure faster travel. As autorickshaws and private vehicles stop at the left hand side of the road, we propose to design the corridor towards the centre,” Mr Ahmed said.

Barriers will be installed to prevent intrusion by other vehicles into the corridor.

Decision regarding having the lane on the left-hand side or right-hand side of the carriageway will be finalised at a coordination meeting likely to be held among the Urban Development Department, BMTC, BDA, IDECK and RITES shortly.

Meanwhile, BMTC Chief Traffic Manager Dastagir Sharief has suggested that service roads that run parallel to the main road on this stretch could be utilised for forming a dedicated corridor.

However, Mr Ahmed said that the RITES might not recommend such a design as it wanted to retain the nature of ‘neighbourhood’ service roads and not convert them into a corridor.

Hi-tech traffic junctions

Uniquely designed traffic junctions will be set up to ensure faster pass-through for buses. Stoppages will be located near junctions, and junctions will be designed to allow 2.5 metres width of the dividing median for bus stops.

“We are looking at creating a bus laning system that will encourage people to switch from private vehicles to public transport. This lane will make buses move faster and will be convenient for commuters,” said Mr Ahmed.