Wagholi terminus demand holds up BRTS

PUNE: Bus operations on the Vishrantwadi-Wagholi BRTS corridor will not begin until there is a bus terminus in Wagholi.
The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has written to the Pune Municipal Corporation about its stand.
Officials said the transit system was launched three months ago. Many commuters had complained that they had to interchange buses and they were finding it difficult to locate buses.Civic officials said land has to be identified for the terminus in Wagholi.
Construction work on the 14km BRTS corridor between Vishrantradi and Wagholi was completed six months ago. The corridor has 12 bus stations, a few of which have automatic doors. After miscreants damaged the dedicated bus lanes and the bus stations, security guards were deployed round-the-clock in July.
Senior PMPML officials said starting bus operations will not be an issue. "Once the entire BRTS infrastructure is ready and handed over, we will be able to start bus operations immediately. We have insisted on a bus terminus in Wagholi," a senior official said.
A joint inspection between the civic and PMPML officials was conducted. Earlier this month, the issue was discussed at a meeting with guardian minister Girish Bapat wherein he said he would speak with residents about the land.
Days after the launch of the Sangamwadi-Vishrantwadi corridor, several commuters staged an agitation in Vishrantwadi to complain about the hardships they faced because of changing buses to go to Alandi, Charholi, Bahulgaon and other areas.
As there is no terminus at Vishrantwadi, buses go off the main road and stop at a temporary bus stand. PMPML officials say that although land has been identified for the terminus on the main road, there are legal hurdles to acquire it. Officials say BRTS buses will terminate in Wagholi, but there are a number of other routes beyond Wagholi, for which a terminus is required.
PMPML is also faced with another problem because there is not a single bus depot in the Vishrantwadi, Alandi, Vimannagar belt. Every morning, all the buses go to Vimannagar or Alandi from bus depots at Pune station and Hadapsar because of which there is increased dead mileage.
Officials say the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation has agreed to give their land near Alandi for building a bus terminal and a depot. Another bus depot will start at Balewadi octroi post this month, which will be beneficial for people staying in Hinjewadi and fringe areas, officials added.