Losses reason for delay in new BRTS routes

If you are looking forward to the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) starting in your area soon, here comes some disappointment. Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd has failed to meet the deadline for completion of the system’s various routes. On certain stretches, this delay seems to be intentional for fear of lack of enough passengers per trip.

AJL has kept changing the deadline of opening various BRTS stretches in the city for one reason or another. In September 2011, a statement issued by it had promised BRTS service to people of Bopal and Chandkheda from March 2012. However, the promise is yet to be fulfilled, and AJL has been running behind schedule for more than a year.

Similarly, the stretches from Nehrunagar to Ellisbridge, Kalupur to Memco, Shah-e-Alam to Astodia, were supposed to be completed in December 2012. However, it does not seem that AJL will be able to start plying BRTS buses on the stretches before December next year.

Some stretches such as Iskcon crossroads to Bopal are almost ready and were supposed to be launched by end of May 2013. However, now the deadline has been moved ahead by two months. “The delay seems to be due to lack of confidence in garnering enough passengers on this stretch,” said sources in AJL.

Sources also said that AJL is already suffering a daily loss of Rs1 crore due to piecemeal stretches such as Town Hall to Kalupur, Odhav to SP Ring Road and Science City to Delhi Darwaza. This may have discouraged the authorities from opening the stretches at revised deadlines, so as to reduce losses, said sources.

However, municipal commissioner Guruprasad Mohapatra said that the delay is due to incomplete works of some bus stops. “The Iskcon cross roads to Bopal stretch will be opened by August,” he said.