Delhi Bus Rapid Transit System

The Delhi BRTS was a bus rapid transit system in Delhi. The first route opened in 2008 ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which were held in the city. The project was well used but was criticised for the difficulty of access to the bus platforms, which were in the middle of the road, for lack of enforcement and for the effect it had on other motor traffic. A legal challenge was defeated in 2012. The Aam Aadmi Party Government had announced the scrapping of bus rapid transit system and it was dismantled in 2016, because of traffic congestion and accidents.

The number of vehicles on Delhi's road increased from 3.3 million in 2000–01 to 7 million in 2010–11; however, less than 10% people in Delhi use private cars, with 33% traveling by bus and 30% walking to work. ^{[citation needed]} The length of roads in Delhi has increased by 17% between 1991 and 2008, with flyovers and underpasses built to improve traffic flow; the Ring Road has been made completely signal-free with the construction of 15 flyovers. ^{[citation needed]} The Delhi Metro opened its first section in 2002 and, as of 2011, carried 2.06 million passengers each day.

Pedestrians became marginalised and journey times and air pollution both increased. In 2002, Supreme Court issued an order to convert all diesel buses to compressed natural gas (CNG) to reduce air pollution; however, average total suspended particulate (TSP) level is still considerably higher than World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations. There is little opportunity to build new roads or widen existing roads, which already make up 21% of the land area. ^{[citation needed]}

The Delhi BRT system was inspired by a similar systems in Curitiba, Brazil which had been introduced a system in 1975, with similar systems being introduced in Bogotá, Colombia (TransMilenio), Guayaquil, Ecuador (Metrovia) and the Eugene, Oregon (Emerald Express (EmX)). GNCTD appointed RITES and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) to design and implement a system for the city in 2004. TRIPP IIT Delhi were appointed as technical and conceptual advisors. GNCTD create the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) in 2006 to oversee the establishment of public transport systems in Delhi and operate it on a day-to-day basis. A trial run took place on 21 April 2008.

The first route, from Dr. Ambedkar Nagar to the south to Delhi Gate in the centre of the city, passed through some of the prime 'colonies' (urban districts) in South Delhi and was also on the main road from Delhi to the large commercial developments in Gurgaon. A trial section of the first route started in operation 20 April 2008 from Dr. Ambedkar Nagar to Moolchand. Construction work for the full length started in October 2008.

The city delayed implementation of a further 14 fast-track bus corridors in response to the level of controversy created by the first scheme.

The legality of the system was challenged in 2012. During the nine-month-long legal challenge the Delhi High Court initially ruled that private vehicles should be allowed the use of the bus lanes on a temporarily basis and ordered the government to review the feasibility of the project. The Delhi government appealed to the Supreme Court of India against the ruling in July 2012, but was unsuccessful. The high court subsequently ruled in favour of the bus rapid transit system concluding that "a developed country is not one where the poor own cars. It is one where the rich use public transport".

After 8 years of operation, the system was dismantled in 2016 due to traffic issues for motorists and accidents.