Could there be any better preparation for the nation’s capital as the host of the 2010 Commonwealth Games than sprucing up its network of roads and road transport? Although the roads are a nightmare at present, with half of them being repaved, there is a lot to look forward to. The makeover process includes not just the smoothening of the road surface but also widening of the busiest thoroughfares.

And then there are the new buses. State-owned Delhi Transport Corporation expects to upgrade its current fleet of 3,000 buses to a fleet of 10,000 buses, most of which would be the low floor, air-conditioned, CNG variety. This certainly is something to look forward to, especially after the nerve racking tornado they call the Blueline. With the current fleet of buses being slowly phased out, even private buses would need to convert to the low-floor variety.

The first dedicated corridor, complete with a dedicated bus lane and the new low floor buses is expected to become operational in June this year. Known as the Bus Rapid Transit or BRT system, this corridor stretches from Ambedkar Nagar to Delhi Gate. Each bus is expected to seat 35 passengers with standing room for 45 more.

And wait that’s not all. Would a new transport system be complete without its upgraded bus stops or “bus shelters” as they are being called now? The Delhi government has sanctioned 2,500 new bus shelters, of which 1,600 will have solar-powered lighting and more than 1,000 would be equipped with water harvesting facilities. Delhi’s transport sector has, in fact, allocated a total of Rs. 29.33 billion for road and transportation improvements for 2008-2009.

So the next time you visit Delhi, be prepared for a city that is switching to public transport, with the comfort and ease offered by the Metro and the new bus service. Another first for a 3,000 year-old city.