Ahmedabad's BRTS update

Ahmedabad's Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) bus service will be able to ferry commuters on the extended stretch up to SG Highway on the western side of the city and till Odhav in the eastern part, in a fortnight. With this, Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited (AJL), the special purpose vehicle of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will add 7 km more to the existing 44.5 km route it already services in the city. From September 6, the bus will start operations on the new routes – from Shivranjani to Iskcon crossroads and from Soni ni Chali to Odhav.
Both extended routes constructed under phase 2 of BRTS measure 3.5 km each. Since the roads and the bus stations are ready, we will start operations from September 6. These routes will have a total of 12 bus stations. A total of 9 km was planned under phase 2 of BRTS, out of which only 7 km has been completed and will become operational.
One must recollect that municipal commissioner Guruprasad Mohapatra had promised that the stretch of 9 km proposed under phase 2 would be completed by December 2011, which was delayed. The plan was for the routes to be extended up to SP Ring Road by March 2012, in a bid to connect Bopal and Iskcon crossroads.
But because of the delay, the stretch of Chandkheda, University roads, Bopal, RTO to Visat Petrol Pump will only be started by December 2012. Ellisbridge to Astodia may take some time as the bus stations will be constructed in heritage design.
A total of 108 buses will be running on BRTS routes after the new routes will be operational. Also, AJL, in a month’s time, will expand its fleet of air-conditioned buses by purchasing around 15 more.