The much-hyped Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) from Rethibowli to JNTU Kukatpally is in doldrums with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) unable to raise funds for the proposed project.As a result,the corporation has put formation of the special purpose vehicle (SPV) for BRTS on hold.
The 18-km stretch,one of the busiest routes in the city,from Rethibowli-Hi-Tec City-JNTU at Kukatpally was chosen for BRTS as there is scope for widening and development of the road. The Unified Metropolitan Traffic Authority (UMTA) had last year decided to tap about Rs 180 crore under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) to take up BRTS.However,the Union government kept the project pending as Andhra Pradesh had utilised Rs 2,475 crore more than the allocated funds.
Another 38 projects,worth about Rs 3,392 crore,are still pending with the government. With no signs of fresh sanctions to the state,the UMTA and GHMC are planning to take a soft loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has already taken loan for the Outer Ring Road (ORR) phase II and the Hussainsagar cleaning programme.
The state government is under pressure to take up the project as it assured the Bhure Lal Committee on Action Plan for Improvement of Air Quality in Hyderabad. The corporation assured the committee at the recently held meeting that SPV for BRTS would be formed as soon as possible.
The proposals for formation of SPV are being prepared and sent to the state government for approval.The GHMC commissioner will be chairman of the SPV and one of the executive directors of APSRTC will act as managing director of the proposed SPV, a senior GHMC official told TOI.
Officials see no purpose in forming an SPV unless the state government gets funds for BRTS.BRTS for the city was proposed three years ago.Feasibility studies were conducted on major routes like Uppal-Mehdipatnam, Uppal-Aramghar and other areas.Finally,it was decided to have BRTS on Rethibowli-Kukatpally stretch.Last year,Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) had completed a feasibility study and submitted a report,including environmental and social assessment study and preliminary designs.
It was decided that while GHMC would provide infrastructure facilities for BRTS like road widening,APSRTC would provide buses and operate them on the this route.
Comment :
The proposed BRTS will hamper traffic since the existing narrow roads will have to be dedicated. Hope there will be elaborate review before going into such mad schemes.
Keyword Tags Hyderabad News,BRTS, BRTS Hyderabad
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