New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in New Delhi will start the "dedicated bus lanes" for heavy vehicles on 15 selected roads in the city from April 1 with hopes to curb accidents.
Vehicles, other than trucks, buses, or lorries, found operating on these lanes will be prosecuted under Section 192-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. It prescribes a fine of Rs 10,000 or imprisonment for six months.
The Delhi government is planning to have 46 such corridors under this initiative.
In a statement, Delhi Transport Department said these lanes would only be used by drivers of buses and goods carriers from 8 am to 10 pm. Other vehicles, however, can use these lanes during the remainder of the time.
"To make Delhi roads safer, the Arvind Kejriwal government is starting Bus Lane Enforcement drives to increase Commuter Safety and tackle congestion. Directions have been issued to DTC and Cluster for driver sensitization, PWD for earmarking bus lanes and Transport, Police enforcement teams," Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said in a tweet.
The transport department has issued an advisory to its public fleet operators -- Delhi Transport Corporation and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Ltd -- to sensitize its drivers, the Delhi government said.
As part of the drive, the Public Works Department has been directed to mark and properly identify the corridors by placing warning signage and boards at suitable places.
In case any light motor vehicle, such as a car is found parked or unattended in the marked bus lanes and its owner or driver refuses to clear it, the vehicle will be towed away and the driver will have to bear the towing charges in addition to the penalty, it said.
The transport department will deploy two teams in two shifts in order to enforce lane discipline. Cranes will also be deployed for impounding and removal of vehicles obstructing the bus lanes. Videos or photographs of the obstructing vehicles will be captured for evidence, the statement noted.
Following are the 15 corridors that will have reserved lanes for heavy vehicles from April 1:
These include the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road stretch from Anuvrat Marg T-point to Pul Prahladpur T-point, Ashram Chowk to Badarpur Border, Janakpuri to Madhuban Chowk, Moti Nagar to Dwarka Mor, Britannia Chowk to Dhaula Quan, Kashmere Gate ISBT to Apsra Border, Signature Bridge-Bhopura Border, Jahangirpuri Metro Station-Kashmere Gate ISBT and ITO-Ambedkar Nagar among others.
With inputs from PTI