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Work on Surat BRTS going on at snail’s pace

As SMC has not completed the work in time, it is unable to get funds sanctioned under JNNURM scheme

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The much awaited Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project in Surat is still hanging fire, thanks to slow pace of work by contractors. Work is visible only on one of the two routes selected.  This has resulted in delay in release of funds to Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC).

The BRTS project for Surat was approved in 2008 at a cost of Rs495 crore. Two routes were finalised by the civic body under phase-I and work was entrusted to Ranjit Buildcon. The contract was granted on 2009, but till now, very little progress has been made on both routes.

On the route connecting Udhna Darwaja to Sachin, work of developing BRTS road is going on, while flyover at Kharvarnagar junction and bridge near Sachin GIDC is still incomplete. The pace of work is so slow that it raises doubts about completion time.

The situation on the second route, also called Canal Corridor, is worse. Canal corridor route is supposed to join Dumas Resorts to Sarthana Jakatnaka. It is to be built along a rivulet of the irrigation department. According to sources, while work on the project has started, some patches of land are still to be acquired by SMC. Again, owing to societies built on both sides of the canal, SMC is not going to get width of 60 meters at some places.

No work is visible on a major portion of the route stretching over 19 km except for the route developed at Vesu, flyovers near Anjana built by the bridge department of SMC and a little work at Aai Mata Junction.

"As progress of work is slow, second instalment of funds for the project is getting delayed. SMC has received first instalment of Rs90 crore," said a top civic official, requesting anonymity.

As the BRTS project is under JNNURM scheme, Union government shares 50% of the cost, state government 20% and SMC 30%. According to the contract both government have given 25% of their share to SMC.

Despite slow progress officials claim that the project will get completed soon. "Owing to rains and other problems, work got delayed. But now it is going on at proper pace. We are hopeful of completing work within four to five months. Buses should start plying by March-end. Roads under BRTS route are completed and only certain patches are left," said BS Shah, additional city engineer (SMC).

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