PMC started BRTS under political pressure, alleges citizens group

PUNE: Nagrik Chetna Manch has alleged that the Pune Municipal Corporation is starting BRTS corridor in Pune because of political pressure and trying to clean up its negative image in the backdrop of Smart City listing. In a letter sent to the PMC and government authorities with the title, ''exploding myths on start-up of so-called BRTS in Pune on Sangamwadi-Alandi corridor’’, NCM said that roll out could be termed as a “modified hybrid transport system”.This is another attempt to use up about Rs 1100 plus public funds without ensuring that the transport system is complete or safe. By PMC trying to reach out to the public in last ditch attempts by offering sops and free rides is not going to wish away the reality of irregularities and deficiencies.
Standard features for a successful BRTS according to globally acceptable and conceptualized features has not been met viz-a-viz exclusivity of continuous bus-ways, footpaths, cycle tracks which is a requirement as per National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) 2006 to maximizing speed, service and achieving rapidity.
To conform to guidelines, standard features, BRTS must be planned scientifically, logically, rationally and comply with industry practices and transportation systems accepted globally.
Despite PMC’s superficial assurances about impending roll-out of the so-called BRTS, if the very basis of this transport infrastructure is askew, safety will be compromised, citizens will purchase more and more private vehicles and the intention of NUTP 2006 will remain on paper and be completely destroyed.