Rs 600-cr bus rapid transit system corridor awaits repairs in Amritsar: La Tribune India

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune press service

Amritsar, October 16

The design of the rapid bus transport system (BRTS), declared defective, has regularly triggered accidents due to infrastructure failures. On September 18, a youth was killed when he was allegedly hit by a BRTS bus near the Golden Gate.

The authorities appear to have failed to perform maintenance and install reflectors to prevent accidents.

Launched in 2016, the multi-crore BRTS project lacked maintenance and has remained neglected. The project is worth Rs 600 crore, but the tracks do not seem to justify the colossal amount invested in the construction as they are in terrible condition in many places, residents say, adding that poor planning and the use of construction materials. substandard quality have done most of the damage to its infrastructure.

The gates installed along the corridors are also missing in several places. For officials, drug addicts are the usual suspects. Some broken gates are also lying on the road, leading to accidents. Reflectors and other traffic infrastructure are also missing.

Most accidents occur when commuters on the main road do not recognize the starting point of the corridor.

In 2019, a committee formed by the state government identified nine black spots on the 31 km long BRTS corridor. After the study, traffic experts wrote to the Department of Public Works to take appropriate action to prevent accidents, but the latter has yet to act.

Black spots had been identified at Bhandari Bridge, BRTS station outside the station, Valmiki Chowk, Putligarh Chowk, Civil Hospital, Ramtalai Chowk, Husainpura Chowk, Mandi Chowk Shopping Center and at the Alpha Mall.

Experts claimed that the lack of proper signage, reflectors and other safety infrastructure led to accidents on the BRTS corridor.

Gopala Dhawan, a traffic expert who has studied the types of accidents in BRTS lanes, said authorities should install reflectors and signage prohibiting entry of other vehicles and a dedicated bus lane at each point. entry. “There is no such signage on the road. Second, the authorities must educate commuters and city dwellers on the rules and the risks, ”he added.