Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal has sought a detailed report from the government over dismantling of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) corridor built by the Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government in south Delhi.
Constructed at a cost of nearly ₹180 crore, the 6.2-km-long corridor was allegedly branded a failure and held responsible for serial traffic jams and accidents, and the general lack of pedestrian safety.
Poll promise
In a note to the Transport Commissioner, the Raj Niwas sought information on whether the Aam Aadmi Party government followed procedure in dismantling the BRT corridor.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had in January last year launched the process of dismantling the corridor. Scrapping of the traffic project, built in 2008, was one of the poll promises of the AAP.
The Delhi government had approved ₹11 crore for dismantling of the BRT corridor from Ambedkar Nagar to Moolchand in south Delhi.
The Capital’s Anti-Corruption Branch had in July 2016 raided the offices of the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Transport Department following allegations of irregularities in the dismantling of the corridor by the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.
Refuting allegations after the raid, Mr. Sisodia had said he had initiated the dismantling on people’s demand and declared that he was ready to “go to jail” for fulfilling his “public duty.”
