SMC officials had undertaken an over 15-day tour of Mexico, Brazil and Columbia in October last year to study the functioning of Bus Rapid Transit System.
Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) officials had undertaken an over 15-day tour of Mexico, Brazil and Columbia in October last year to study the functioning of Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in those countries, but have not submitted their report even six months after the tour. This has invited criticism from Congress corporators that the tour was undertaken as a pleasure trip, and not as a study tour.
Project consultant, Urban Mass Transit System (UMTS) had organised the tour for SMC officials and rulers. Six corporators from the rulers' side participated in the tour. From the authorities side, municipal commissioner S Aparna, deputy commissioner Pradipsinh Jhala, head of BRTS cell Bharat Shah and town planner Rajesh Pandya went on the tour.
After successful completion of the tour, the delegation claimed to have gained important
knowledge about implementing the BRTS system. But till now, no report has been prepared.
The matter was taken up by the opposition Congress in SMC. Congress corporator Bhupendra Solanki raised questions in this regard, to which authorities failed to give any satisfactory answer. Solanki alleged that the authorities had used the trip for enjoyment.
"They went to three countries to learn how BRTS has been implemented there and what are its shortcomings and benefits. But it is surprising that they did not find time to compile a report and present it to the board," Solanki said.
Municipal commissioner S Aparna said that no report has to be submitted to anybody. The information collected has to be submitted to the BRTS cell of the SMC.
"We have started working on our BRTS project as per information submitted to the cell. The designs, proposals and estimates of the project are being prepared as per the experience and information gained from the tour. Solanki has not specified to whom we have to submit report," Aparna added.
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