Car Free Day, Hassle Free Public Transport

With the perceived success  of car free day in Gurgaon on Delhi outskirts, a similar attempt is being contemplated for the national capital. That too, on October 22, the peak of the Dussehra/Durga Puja season.

While being a laudable idea, it may prove to be only a symbolic gesture, in a city with not many options of relatively comfortable public transport options except the Metro rail service. Buses, despite being modernised to include low floor versions of air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned versions, the state-owned Delhi transport Corporation is yet to develop a passenger information system like the Metro.

Delhi Transport Corporation  bus
 (photo courtesy : DTC) 

A bus passenger still has no means of knowing when the next bus would come. A pilot project during the Commonwealth Games, 2010 that had electronic display boards announcing the bus with its route number was not followed up. Yet another facility of tracking the buses to the point of even providing information about the number of vacant seats is also yet to see light of the day.

Delhi Transport Corporation
Air-conditioned bus (photo
courtesy: DTC)

Auto rickshaws and taxis are either uncomfortable or expensive. Availability also depends on the willingness of the driver to go where you want to go without overcharging.

Cycles are eco-friendly and a healthier option for most people in sedentary desk-bound occupations. However, the mere thought of cycling along fast moving vehicles and extreme weather conditions make that also an impractical idea, as of now.

I still remember the late 1960s when hordes of cyclists from government staff colonies like RK Puram and Lodhi colony used to pedal all the way to their offices in Central Secretariat, the North and South Blocks and several other Bhavans, regardless of the distance or weather conditions. 

What could be a practical solution? One would be dedicated cycle tracks on all major roads with separate signalling system for them at junctions. 

This should, as far as possible, offer a certain amount of protection for the riders by way of tree cover or even shades fitted with solar panels that could be used for power generation that can be used to light up the passage at night or power fans for cooling.

One good thing is that the government is planning to reintroduce the much reviled Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor. The pilot project failed more due to lack of proper planning and commitment than anything else.

     BRT corridor with buses in extreme right lane.
(photo courtesy: DIMTS)

What the authorities failed to ensure was enough space. They should have learnt from the Delhi Metro construction experience of expanding road space to compensate for that lost to construction of viaducts in the middle of the road. So we had a situation where buses were able to cover the stretch in five minutes leaving cars struck in interminable traffic jams. A series of signals at cross roads and lack of enough foot over bridges/under passes to enable people to cross over to the bus stops located on the central median added to the congestion.

The BRT scheme was scrapped by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal. However, of late, moves are afoot to revive it and include more areas.

Decades ago, in the 1970s, the DTC had initiated a 'hub and spokes' approach, of having shorter routes for buses that would terminate at designated hubs from where passengers can change over to buses going in different directions. 

The destination boards were colour coded for easy identification like green for Central Secretariat terminus and red for Karol Bagh terminus. The numbering system also gave an indication like those starting with 3 bound for East Delhi, 8 for West Delhi, 4 and 5 for South Delhi and the like.

Even now, it could be reintroduced with a single ticket like the metro tokens. Smart cards that could be used for all kinds of public transport including autos and taxis should be introduced so that hassles with small change no longer pose a disincentive.