VIJAYAWADA: Civic authorities are now re-focusing on Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS), which since inception has been facing bottlenecks. With Krishna Pushkarams six months away and Durga Flyover works under progress, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation is in knots on managing traffic.
Hence it decided to revive the BRTS and on Thursday huddled with Railway authorities to have the BRTS road extended up to Railway Station. Since, the land required is with Railways, there consent and cooperation is essential.
Municipal Commissioner G Veerapandian who met Vijayawada division railway officials discussed the plans for extension of BRTS from Meesala Raja Rao bridge to Railway Station through Khuddus Nagar and DRM Office and extend up to Pandit Nehru Bus Station. Commissioner said it would help thousands of passengers alighting at bus and railway stations to move freely in the city.
Veerapandian also wanted the railway authorities help in widening the road at Railway Booking Office on the west side of the railway station so to accommodate traffic during Krishna Pushkarams which will commence in August 2016. All railway officials assured VMC that they would take up the issue with Railway Board.
In the first place, BRTS was sanctioned to Vijayawada under JNNURM scheme with an outlay of Rs. 450 crore. As per the proposal, it was to have six corridors. Out of which Green Corridor (loop corridor) of 15.5 km length from Bus terminal Railway Goods Shed - Railway Station - C.K.Reddy Road Junction - Sathayanarayanapuram railway track - Padavala Revu - Gunadala - Ramavarappadu Ring Road Junction - N.T.R. Health University - Benz Circle - Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium - Vijaya Krishna Super Market - Old Bus Stand - City Bus Terminal was one.
State government in 2008 had issued GO no. 816 facilitating the formation of an SPV called VUTC for the execution of the BRTS project in the city, with APSRTC holding 51 per cent share, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation 25 per cent and Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali-Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority (VGTM-UDA) holding 21 per cent share. Out of the proposed Green Corridor of BRTS line of 15.5 km length, VMC could complete only 3.5 km of special corridor.
Given the escalation in costs, the APSRTC expressed inability to operate buses on that route suffering losses, had the project put on back burner. Time frame for the funds to be released from JNNURM for the BRTS project also lapsed. Now, with VMC plans to revive BRTS project in view of Krishna Pushkarams raises several questions. Will railway authorities agree to the proposal, as it means losing significant part of its land, where railway employee quarters are located? How the civic body, which is reportedly not in good financial health, be able to bear the cost of land acquisition?
Meanwhile, district collector Babu A has directed officials concerned to make elaborate arrangements along the ghats on the banks of Krishna River for facilitate devotees to change their clothes and perform rituals associated with the Pushkarams. APSRTC is planning to run 900 additional buses in the district and a proposal was mooted to run mini buses to small ghats.
