This is the biggest outlay ever for transport in the city and could change the way we commute. Delhi has been given Rs 2,270 crore this year by the Planning Commission to give its transportation system a makeover. The amount is about 40% of the city’s entire budget of Rs 5,200 crore. And the Metro isn’t included in this.

This money could mean a much larger fleet of DTC buses, some of them air-conditioned; a big fleet of large-capacity buses in specially designed corridors; sleek stainless steel bus stops; a monorail network to provide the last-mile connectivity for the Metro and interstate bus terminals with all modern amenities.

In fact, with this money the government can build a transport system that’s comfortable and efficient to bring about a much-needed change in the city’s commuting pattern — from private to public transport — and ease up, in the process, the relentless pressure on roads.

Money, the planners have signalled, isn’t a problem. Just get your act together and use it efficiently. The advice isn’t misplaced. Money has never really been a problem in Delhi; the problem has been its utilisation. Better utilisation obviously means more work, which does not seem to appeal to the city bureaucracy.

Possibly with the upcoming Commonwealth Games in mind, the Planning Commission has asked the Delhi government to increase its annual plan outlay for 2007-08. Delhi government had proposed to increase the annual plan size by Rs 2,000 crore to reach Rs 7,200 crore. But the planners told the government to hike it by another Rs 1,800 crore to reach an unprecedented plan size of Rs 9,000 crore.

Source: TOI(Delhi-epaper)

Entry Filed under: Delhi Traffic News