21.10.08

Ahmedabad BRTS snippets


If not by Christmas, then the first phase of the BRT service connecting Vasna with Naranpura will be operational by Uttarayan, it has been learnt. Hectic activity is now on at various levels, if work from Nehrunagar to Shivranjani cross and further toward IIM and Memnagar is anything to go by.Bosses at the Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd (AJL), the special purpose vehicle for the project, are running against time because the launch has to take place before the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections.In fact, after a disappointing delay in completion of the Sabarmati Riverfront Development project, political bosses ruling the roost in Gandhinagar will depend heavily on two mascots of progress: the Nano and BRTS.
Incidentally, AJL has already finalised the bus design, though the colour is yet to be given a final gothrough. But officials are not in a hurry on this front, and have said that other loose ends will have to be tied up prior to that. Project in-charge D Thara said: “All the bus stops on the routes will have to be completed and drivers will have to be imparted special training to operate them to ensure that the time schedule is maintained and that they get a clear understanding of instructions from the Central communication unit.” She said the tenders will be finalised by mid-November for the develop ment of this communication unit. Then a ticketing system will also have to be finalised along with the launch of the bus service. She said the sample bus will be procured next month. Municipal commissioner I P Gautam said the launch will be “very soon.” He, however, refrained from giving a fixed date for that.
The AMC administration has once already faced an embarrassing situation by announcing the launch date of the Kankaria Lake Front Development project, which went wide off the mark.
Gautam said the “operational nuances” of the project will have to be taken care of before the announcement of the launch date.Apart from completing the bus stops, the training of bus drivers and the construction of bus stops and bridges will also have to be completed, he said.
According to him, the split flyover bridge at Memnagar across Drive-In Road will be completed by the end of December whereas the one near the AEC junction in Naranpura will be finished by January.The first few days of the launch will be for trial runs, he said.

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