Claiming an "improvement' in the traffic situation on the 5.6-km Ambedkar Nagar-Moolchand section of the controversial new Bus Rapid Transport corridor following some fine-tuning of the signalling system, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Saturday announced several new measures to reduce the travel time for private vehicles through the corridor. "The measures will show results in about three weeks,' she said, making it clear that for now the corridor is here to stay.

The bus rapid transit (BRT) system may not have found many takers among commuters, but it does have some high profile people batting for it even if the collective public rage against the system may be putting some of its staunchest proponents on the defensive. The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has come out in open support of the system while at a discussion organised by the Delhi Study Group, officials urged commuters to show patience.

The nightmare on the corridor shows no signs of going away. A

Five days into the BRT trial run and hopes of it being a success in the

The entire road network adjoining the corridor is congested as motorists try to find an escape route

No Conflict Of Interest, Insist Experts As questions are being raised vigorously by citizens' groups, traffic experts and MPs across party lines over the controversial BRT corridor, what seems to have slipped notice is that the patrons of the IIT-Delhi department behind the concept include bus manufacturing majors Volvo and Tatas.

After spending several gruelling hours under a hot on Thursday sun monitoring the traffic flow on the Ambedkar Nagar-Moolchand Bus rapid transit system (BRTS) corridor, officials worked hard to sort out glitches, especially after chief minister Sheila Dikshit's veiled threat to scrap the new bus corridor. Delhi's transport minister Haroon Yusuf, who made a personal visit to the stretch, said that efforts were being made to rectify the loopholes and that the things would further improve in days to come.

The government has decided to widen the road at Press Enclave and acquire land near Chirag Dilli village by covering the drain to ease traffic on the Bus Rapid Transit corridor. The decision comes after three days of traffic nightmare on the 5.6-km stretch. Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta said the government is also looking at the possibility of building underpasses for traffic headed rightward along the corridor, leading up to Chirag Dilli intersection.

Asks stakeholders to plug loopholes

The trial run on the first 5.6-km section of the highly controversial Bus Rapid Transit Corridor from Ambedkar Nagar to Moolchand Hospital in South Delhi would begin from April 22. To begin with, 20 new low-floor buses would be pressed into service on this section. Disclosing this on Wednesday, Delhi Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf expressed confidence that the corridor would live up to public expectations. "The corridor would be formally thrown open to the public in the first week of May. I am sure people will appreciate it once it is opened,' he said.