What is Bus Rapid Transit system?
The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is a transportation system, which through various improvements in infrastructure, scheduling of traffic movement and vehicles, attempts to use buses for providing a mode of transport better than an ordinary bus line. The road is designed and engineered with dedicated bus lanes that no other vehicles can use and, likewise, there are separate lanes for motorised vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.

WHEN was it started?
The system was invented in Curitiba, Brazil in 1974. Other cities that are now using BRT are Bagota Quito, Perreira, Guayaquil, Guatemala City, Los Angeles, Ottawa, Miami, Leeds and Adelaide. Cities like Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul and Lagos have taken up the BRT system now.
In India, the system has been partly taken up in Indore, Pune and Ahmedabad, other than Delhi.

HOW will it work in Delhi?
The BRT system in Delhi, formerly known as the High Capacity Bus System (HCBS), was first mooted in 1996 as a solution to the increasing number of accidents in the city. It was later formally discussed at the international workshop organised by the Delhi Transport Corporation and IDFC in 2001 and five corridors were selected in 2003 after feasibility reports were submitted by RITES.
The project was, however, given the formal nod in 2005 and the 14.5 km-long corridor between Ambedkar Nagar and Delhi Gate was taken up for construction only in October 2006. 5.6 km of the stretch, till Moolchand flyover, is expected to be functional in April 2008.

WHAT’s in store?
Separate bus lanes along the central verge: Buses will ply along the central verge and not in the side lanes. While it is not a universal rule, central lanes are given preference to avoid conflict with the left moving traffic. This will increase the efficiency of buses and reduce the possibility of accidents keeping other forms of vehicular and pedestrian traffic out of the way. This lane will be open for VIP traffic movement, school buses and emergency services also.

* Low-floor buses
Nearly 100 low-floor buses called High Capacity Buses will be plying along the corridor on route no. 419, 423, 521 and 522. Bluelines will continue to ply along the route till they are gradually phased out by 2009.

* Bus stops in the middle of the road, at traffic intersections
The bus stops are located with two different platforms along the bus lanes and pedestrians will be allowed to cross the road only along the zebra crossing at traffic intersections.

* Disabled-friendly BRT
Tactile tiles for guiding the visually challenged, low-floor platforms, low-floor buses and traffic information in Braille at bus stops.

* Traffic signals
The number of traffic signals along the stretch has been increased from 19 to 21. The first functional section will have six traffic signals. There will be a different and coordinated signal schedule for buses and other vehicles.

* Parking facilities
The Delhi government has three parking lots planned in Madangir, Pushp Vihar and near Delhi Gate to discourage commuters from parking their vehicles along the roads and disrupting vehicular movement.