VIJAYAWADA: To accommodate the projected growth of people and vehicular traffic in the capital region, the AP Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) has begun chalking out a plan to create a dedicated public transport corridor, such as the bus rapid transit system (BRTS) in Amaravati. All the arterial, sub-arterial and city roads in the capital will be integrated with the proposed BRTS, which will further be connected to Vijayawada and Guntur. The BRTS is a part of the integrated public transportation system (IPTS) being planned in Amaravati.
A mechanism to facilitate flexible public transportation that does not follow fixed routes, called feeder roads/intermediate para transit (IPT), is proposed along the BRTS to meet the evolving needs of the passengers. The BRTS, with the feeder system, is called the IPTS.The CRDA has already invited the request for quotation (RFQ) to engage a consultant for feasibility study of the project and preparation of the detailed project report (DPR).
“The project will integrate the capital roads and the nodes in Vijayawada and Guntur. Four firms have participated in the pre-bid meeting held recently. We expect more to come,” S Shan Mohan, additional commissioner of CRDA, told TNIE.
He, however, explained that the project would take some time to become a reality as it was not yet necessary at the moment. “It will be taken up in the next phase of transportation system development,” he said.
The RFQs, submitted by the firms, would be opened on March 12, post which the proposals would be evaluated.
“The firm, which will meet the criteria, will be appointed as the consultant, which will study the requirements and prepare a DPR. It will also help the CRDA in execution of the project by being the project management consultant,” another official said.
For the record, a 15.6-km-long BRTS project was proposed in Vijayawada a decade ago, but it remained unfinished after only 3.5-km-stretch was laid, as the project was found to be unviable, apart from the fact that there was financial crunch. When asked how necessary is a BRTS in the capital, the official said, “The BRTS for Vijayawada was planned much before Amaravati was planned. For various reasons it did not materialise as planned. Now, we have an opportunity to incorporate the BRTS in Amaravati, as well as in the satellite cities in the capital region,” the official said.
Why BRTS will have to wait for now?
The length of major arterial, arterial and sub-arterial, LPS-connecting roads in Amaravati: 1600-km
The proposed BRTS project will integrate the above roads and will be extended to nodal junctions in Vijayawada and Guntur
The length of the proposed BRTS will be finalised by the consultant, in keeping with the requirements of the CRDA, which will be appointing it
The CRDA is in the process of identifying a consultant to study the feasibility and for preparation of DPR, of the project
The project will take time to become a reality as there is no immediate need for it. It is planned to tackle future need of the capital city and therefore will be taken up in the second phase of transportation development in the capital
Is BRTS an entirely new concept for AP?
A 15.6-km-long BRTS project was proposed in Vijayawada a decade ago. It however, was abandoned later