Now, BRTS set for July-August take off

In April, the PMPML had assured to install Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) on 220 buses to start the bus service on the BRTS route by June 1. However, the deadline has come and gone, but there is no sign of the BRTS taking off.

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Last year, the PMC came under severe criticism for spending huge amount of funds to start BRTS on Nagar-Alandi route. Following this, Mayor Dattatraya Dhankawade declared March 1 as the deadline to start the BRTS. However, the deadline was breached and thereafter extended every month. “The civic body had put the infrastructure in place long back. However, the infrastructure was damaged and at places equipment was stolen. The civic administration had to undertake its repair and maintenance work,” said Vivek Kharwadkar, additional city engineer.

He said it was meaningless to take up repair and maintenance work unless ITMS was activated as it’s difficult to keep a check on those damaging infrastructure. “The ITMS installation is being done and simultaneously we are also undertaking repair work,” said Kharwadkar.
When PMPML had undertaken trial of ITMS in April, the mayor had directed the civic administration to install  necessary equipment in 220 buses to ply on the BRTS route.

Meanwhile, PCMC said it will conduct its trial run on Aundh-Ravet BRTS route by July 15. This was the route on which the transport utility, during the tenure of Shrikar Pardeshi as CMD, wanted to install ITMS in March, but could not do so as PCMC had failed to put the route in order.

“By July 15, we expect the trial run on Aundh-Ravet route,” said PCMC Commissioner Rajeev Jadhav.

The PCMC chief said the system on other two routes — Wakad-Nashik Phata and Nigdi-Dapodi — will start after two months of the implementation of the project on Aundh-Ravet route.  “The fourth route — Kalewadi-Dehu – will start only next year as we are in the process of putting the route in order,” said Jadhav.

To ensure there is no more damage to the infrastructure at BRTS stations and terminals, the PMC and PCMC have appointed private security guards at all the bus stops.

In PMC area, there are a total of 22 BRT stations, nine on Sangamwadi-Vishrantwadi and 13 on Nagar Road corridors. “The appointed agency will have to ensure housekeeping and security services at BRT stations and terminals. The guards deployed for security purposes shall also do the housekeeping work,” said PMPML officials. In Pimpri-Chinchwad, PCMC said that transport utility has been given the charge of two routes and will deploy guards to ensure there is no damage.  “The objective is to give a clean and presentable look to BRT stations and terminals and ensure security from 7 am to 11 pm on any given day,” said PMPML officials.

The plan to have a public outreach programme to spread awareness on BRTS is yet to be implemented completely and branding it as ‘rainbow BRTS’ by painting buses with multi-colours is also to pick up.

The failure to start BRTS and merely blocking the route has been creating inconvenience to vehicles on the roads. At some places, the citizens were using the route for parking vehicles.

Activist Qaneez Sukhrani said the road design on Nagar Road is pathetic as there are no information boards or reflectors to indicate spots of dedicated BRTS lanes. “The lanes, intersections are too wide. Gaps that are not in the design are kept open and vehicles resort to wrong side driving,” she said.