MMRDA says BRTS not for city, transport activists feel otherwise

There are chances that the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project that has been in discussions for the past few years will not see the light of the day. On the project, which was to be implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) along with other agencies like BEST and traffic police, MMRDA

Commissioner Rahul Asthana said, "Implementing the BRTS project in a city like Mumbai where there is hardly road space available would be tough.

" Meanwhile, the move has generated much heat among the transport activists like Sudhir Badami, who are opposing any move to stall the project. " In a city like Mumbai where only 2.5 per cent of people use the cars, with the rest preferring public transportation system, the BRTS is the only solution to solve the traffic problem," said Badami.

Stating that public transportation should be given prominence, the most financially viable project being BRTS, he added, " Serious efforts must be made to avoid the use of personal cars, considering the need to acknowledge and recognise the phenomena of global warming.

" Accusing the MMRDA of pushing for Metro and monorail projects instead of the more viable and useful BRTS, Badami said, " Officials must have informed the new commissioner about the BRTS project in a negative light and hence I would personally meet him and speak to him about the benefits of the project.

" The approximate cost of the BRTS project is Rs 1300 crore. While MMRDA had earlier raised the issue of funding, the Centre had promised to provide a grant for the same. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had earlier supported the BRTS system and said that Dedicated Bus lane (DBL) that is a part of the BRTS would be implemented soon and BRTS should also be executed.

Asthana has also previously worked with the BEST and BMC and hence knows the situation in these organizations as well. However the option has not been completely ruled out and the future of BRTS still remains to be seen.

MMRDA were supposed to have a trial run of DBL on Western and Eastern Express highways in October. However due to the lack of interest from BEST and unavailability of traffic police constables this project has been sidelined.