The river flows fastest in the centre and this is equally true for a public transport system. You just need to look at the global tram system (still prevalent in Kolkata, and part of Mumbai’s network until the 1960s), says Dinesh Mohan, explaining why BRT corridors are generally in the right-hand-side lane on both sides.

Mohan, Volvo Chair Professor Emeritus of IIT Delhi, was part of the Delhi BRT project.

For people long used to waiting on the roadside for a bus, that may seem strange, even unwise, given how difficult it sometimes is to cross major roads.

But there are sound reasons for the BRT corridor being in the middle, particularly in this country.

It is simply impractical for a bus to drive on the left in India. “The left lane of every road in major Indian cities is generally occupied by cyclists, thelas (push-carts), rickshaws and pedestrians. City buses cannot use the left lane and typically have to straddle the middle (lane). And so, passengers have to stand on the road to board the bus,” says Mohan.

As a result, the width of the main artery is reduced by a third, forcing vehicles to scramble for space and often causing accidents.

So, if buses have to move fast, they have to use the right or centre lane. That helps them avoid pedestrians, cyclists, vendors, vehicles that pull over, and others arbitrarily parked in the lane.

Of course, transport authorities will have to ensure commuters have easy access to BRT stops in the middle of the road, something that is not the case now.

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