Amritsar Metrobus

Amritsar MetroBus (Amritsar BRTS) is the bus rapid transit system (BRTS) in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India.[9] Amritsar MetroBus allows easy travel to different places in city like the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Guru Nanak Dev University and Khalsa College[10] for nominal fares.[11] The time gap or frequency between two buses on the same route is five minutes.[12]

Amritsar BRTS
Overview
LocaleAmritsar
Transit typeBus rapid transit
Number of lines7
Number of stations47
Daily ridership91000[1]
Chief executivePublic Works Department, Amritsar
HeadquartersAmritsar, Punjab, India
WebsiteAmritsar Metrobus
Operation
Began operation15 December 2016 (initial)[2]
28 January 2019 (full)[3][4]
Operator(s)Punjab Bus Metro Society (250 employees)[5][6]
Number of vehicles93[7][8]
Technical
System length31 km (19 mi)
Top speed21 km/h (13 mph)

Construction and Operation

The project was commenced on 19 September, 2013[13] and was launched on 28 January, 2019 with the cost of ₹545 crore (US$76 million).[14][15] Construction work started on 26 February, 2015. In September, 2016, 90% of work was completed.[16] Amritsar BRTS is based on Ahmedabad BRTS model [17] and was constructed on the lines of Metrobus (Istanbul). [17] Volvo Buses showed its interest in BRTS project at the holy city of Amritsar.[18] The Amritsar MetroBus operates with 93 Air-conditioned AT buses by Tata Marcopolo. [19] After the launch MetroBus recorder ridership of 41,000 passengers within one week.[20] Amritsar BRTS authorities sold more than 8,000 smart cards to daily passengers within a week.[21] The transportation system is completely free for school students in uniform up to senior secondary classes.[22] After launch, for first three month project was free of cost for commuters.[23]

Key features

Some of the key features of Amritsar BRTS are:[24]

  • Automatic Doors at metro Stations for passengers safety
  • Overheard bridges for pedestrians
  • Two different lanes for movement of buses in both directions
  • Intersections will act as boarding place for the buses
  • Complete Air conditioned buses
  • Automated doors of all buses
  • Lifts for commuters at Metro Stations on elevated corridor
  • A special Metro smart Card similar to that like in Metro Rails [25]
  • Smart Announcements at Metro Stations and in Metro Buses similar to those in Metro Railways
  • Retrofitted Metro Stations on elevated corridor

Corridors

Metro Bus's 31 km route have multiple routes [26] and corridors: [27][28]

  • Atari Road – ISBT to India Gate via Bhandari Bridge, GNDU, Chheharta (12 km)
  • Jalandhar Road – ISBT to MCA Gate via Tarawalan Pul (6 km)
  • Verka Road – ISBT to Verka via Hussainpura Bridge, G. T. Road Bypass (13 km)
  • Sham Singh Attari Wala gate and Bhandari Bridge [29] to India Gate
  • Bhandari Bridge to Daburji [30]
  • Daburji Bypass to Verka
  • Verka to Celebration Mall [31]
  • Celebration Mall to Sant Singh Sukha Singh Chowk
  • 4S Chowk to Kitchlu Chowk
  • Kitchlu Chowk to Old Sadar Police Station

In February 2019, citizens demanded service to be extended to Circular road due to frequent traffic congestion in the area. [32]

Green mobility

Amritsar Smart City Limited planned to add additional 30 Electric buses and 9,000 electric Auto rickshaws for feeder service to the Amritsar BRTS.[33]

Awards and recognition

In November, 2019 at 12th urban India mobility conference and exhibition in Lucknow, Amritsar MetroBus bagged an award of excellence under the category of ‘Best Urban Mass Transit System’ from Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, India. [34]

See also

References
  1. "At 91K, BRTS ridership affects auto drivers". The Tribune. 24 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  2. Service, Tribune News. "BRTS completes 3 yrs, fails to catch fancy of residents". The Tribune. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  3. Mahi, Shaminder (28 January 2019). "Finally, BRTS Project Inaugurated in Amritsar". PTC NEWS. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  4. "Amritsar BRTS relaunched with 3-month free travel - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  5. "Punjab Bus Metro Society (PBMS)" (PDF). Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB).
  6. "Employees of metro bus complain of salary delay". Tribuneindia News Service. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  7. "Holy city of Amritsar to get BRTS, cabinet clears proposal". Punjab News Express. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  8. Desk, India TV News (20 September 2013). "BRTS project for Amritsar, Ludhiana". www.indiatvnews.com. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  9. News, Urban Transport (29 January 2019). "After missing several deadlines, Amritsar BRTS launches finally". Urban Transport News. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  10. "Metro bus gets lukewarm response". The Tribune. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  11. "Fare of metro bus service revised". The Tribune. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  12. "Frequency of Metro buses increases". The Tribune. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  13. "Amritsar BRTS to get operational by December | Chandigarh News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  14. XC JS PS 1806, UNI (28 January 2019). "Sidhu launches Bus Rapid Transit project". United News of India. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  15. "Govt set to put Rs 545 cr BRTS project on track". The Tribune. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  16. Service, Tribune News (29 December 2015). "State govt departments unlikely to complete BRTS by March 31 deadline". tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  17. "Amritsar to copy Ahmedabad BRTS model | Chandigarh News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  18. TNN (8 August 2015). "Volvo keen on BRTS". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  19. "Tata Motors commences delivery of new AC buses, with Automatic Transmission in Amritsar, for new BRTS operations". Tata Motors Limited. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  20. "BRTS begins drawing passengers enormously". The Tribune. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  21. "BRTS has 8,000 smart card holders". The Tribune. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  22. "BRTS ride to be free for school students in uniform". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  23. "Navjot Singh Sidhu launches Amritsar BRTS, says wants to give it a chance to succeed". The Indian Express. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  24. "Amritsar BRTS project starts moving | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  25. "Smart cards for metro bus passengers soon". The Tribune. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  26. "Long BRTS routes for short journeys". Tribuneindia News Service. 3 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  27. "Amritsar BRTS to be revived soon - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  28. "Delay irks metro bus service users". The Tribune. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  29. Service, Tribune News. "Amritsar, grab the chance". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  30. "Commuters feel unbearable heat as BRTS enters Bhandari Bridge". Hindustan Times. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  31. "Rs 600-crore BRTS project kicks off in Amritsar". Hindustan Times. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  32. "Rapid transit system sought for congested Circular Road". The Tribune. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  33. "ASCL bestowed mobility solution award". The Tribune. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  34. "City BRTS scripts a success story". The Tribune. 19 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
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