While the Central and Delhi Government are continuously moving in the direction to create a world class transport system for the people in the national Capital, the commuters, especially the 30 lakh daily bus users, of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) appear to be in a fix as boarding a bus from the ‘undesignated bus shelters’, constructed over the expansion of flyovers and highways, is fraught with physical risks.

In a reality check done by The Pioneer found that boarding and de-boarding a bus at Delhi’s bus stops such as Lajpat Nagar, Bhikaji Cama Place, Sreeniwas Puri, Mayur Vihar Phase-I, South Extension and Shadara Flyover, ITO flyover and many others are constructed/located at the mouth of a flyover without keeping the pedestrians’ safety and traffic congestion into mind.

Due to the construction of these bus stops in the beginning of a flyover or at the end of it, the commuters are forced to go in the middle of the roads  and thus putting their lives at risk to board the bus as the bus drivers stop the buses far away from the stop. Also, if a driver stops the bus at bus que shelter, it leads to a traffic congestion as the vehicles behind it also stop.

However, there is no data of how many such bus stops exist in the city, but the Delhi Transport Department and Public Works Department (PWD) are working in tandem to resolve the chaos, said a senior official.

Transport department has also recently conducted a meeting with the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) and the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) regarding the bus shelters.

The official at CRRI also said that they advised to re-designate such bus stops but no action has been taken.

“As per the road engineering rules, a bus stop is never constructed at the mouth of a flyover.  The bus stop should be located 500 metres away from the flyover. It is not only create traffic congestion but it also creates a dangerous situation for the bus users too. In Delhi these stops existed before construction of the flyovers  but bus stops were never re-located. At many places, there is no space to wait, and the buses also come and stop many times somewhere away from the marked area, putting the people’s lives in a risk, “ said S Velmurugan, senior principal scientist in the Traffic Engineering and Safety division of CRRI.

Official at CRRI also said that the matter was  highlighted wuth examples such as Sarita Vihar flyover, the Shahdara flyover, and the Dwarka flyover have bus stops at their mouth. But no action taken.

Besides this, when The Pioneer spoke to DTC, found that with such construction, the speed of the DTC have also been affected.

The speed limit of the DTC and clustered buses has reduced to 100 km from 130 km per eight hours. According to the DTC, previously a bus used to cover 15 km per hour in the morning and evening peak hours and covered up to 30 km per hour during the non-peak hours but now it has reduced to 12 km per hour in the peak hours and 15 km in the non-peak hours.

“The construction of the flyovers and expressways and other projects to develop the city is very good but at the same these projects have car-oriented infrastructures. Most of the flyovers in the city and expressways connecting neighbouring states, are designed without keeping the public transport users in the mind which creates a big chaotic situation for the public,” said a senior DTC official on the condition of anonymity.

Further, key reasons behind the reduction of the speed limit are narrow roads, no designated bus stops in the intersection

Official further added, bus stops have been demolished to construct the flyovers, metro and highways. On many places the same has not been restored. Also, the bus shelters are located in a very un-designated places and drivers never stop. “Many of the bus stops are constructed under the flyovers or in the left carriageways where the buses never stop. Three bus stops were demolished in the Mayur Vihar during the construction of  Delhi-Meerut-Expressway and have not been restored yet. From Sarai Kale Khan to Delhi Gate there is no clarity for bus stands and that results in people either going in middle of the road to take the bus or walk miles to take a bus,” added the official.

Further, the DTC observed that there is no clarity  on bus stops constructed in the stretch of the flyovers such as in Punjabi Bagh, Raja Garden, South Extension, Naraina Ring Road, Bhikaji Cama Place,  Outer Ring Road, Mayur Phase-II, Mubarak Chowk by-pass Anand Vihar, Akshardam (CWG), Srinivaspuri, Sarai Kale Khan to Delhi Gate, Gurudwara Khichdipur.

However, when asked an official from the Delhi Government said, “Presently, we have not received any complaint over this issue. Whenever, we get a complaint or request for changes of bus shelters, the concerned department takes action immediately for a better transport facility for the commuters,” he added.