In Delhi, about 1,400 bus shelters will receive a computerised makeover.

  • July 18, 2022, 12:50 p.m.

The Delhi government will build 1,397 state-of-the-art bus queue shelters in the national capital, which will boast of real-time information on buses through digital displays, apart from security features like CCTV cameras and panic buttons, and many other amenities. On the new bus queue shelters, commuters will be able to see the destination and expected time of arrival of the next bus on the digital display boards, on the lines of Delhi Metro stations. The new bus shelters and their surrounding areas will be covered by LED lighting, and security measures will include CCTV cameras and panic buttons, which will be monitored from the command and control centre of the Delhi government’s transport department. 
The first two prototype bus queue shelters are coming up at ITO, with one being made of stainless steel and the other of fiberglass material. Both the shelters are expected to become operational by the end of this month and, following a review, the design better suited for Delhi’s conditions will be replicated at other locations.

The government also wants the structures to provide a completely barrier-free environment for people with disabilities and elderly commuters. The shelters will have ramps, tactile paths, handrails, etc., so that they can be easily accessed by those with reduced mobility. The bus shelters will not only provide protection from the afternoon sun and rain but will also have adequate seating arrangements or resting areas, sources said. At least 75% of the seating in the new bus shelters is expected to be demarcated for the elderly, women, and people with disabilities. 
The new bus shelters may also accommodate pedestrians and cyclists by incorporating elements of footpaths and cycle tracks. The bus shelters will also be placed, keeping in mind the existing trees and other street furniture, without obstructing passengers’ view of the bus. The bus shelter design may also incorporate dustbins and street vendors, where relevant.
With the plan of making the sight of broken, rickety and dilapidated bus queue shelters a thing of the past, the Delhi government decided to come up with sleek new shelters with a contemporary design a few years ago. Apart from replacing the existing old bus shelters, many of these new ones will also come up at locations that don’t have a bus shelter at present.
The government has floated tenders to build the new bus queue shelters through a public-private partnership that will be cost-effective without compromising on its function, user experience, and appearance, apart from being durable and easy to maintain. The government wanted bus shelters that would be vandalism-proof, all-weather structures.

Author : Rajdhani Delhi Representative

Rajdhani delhi representative

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