The UT Administration is now focusing only on the Metro under the MRTS (Mass Rapid Transit System). The MRTS, which has Metro as one of the constituents, also focuses on BRTS (Bus Rapid Transport System), rail corridors, underpasses and pedestrians pathways. To streamline the traffic system in the city, RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Services) feels both Metro and BRTS should be integrated and developed simultaneously.

The UT Administration, however, claims that Metro should be the priority and there is no immediate need for an integrated bus transit system.

“At present, we are focusing only on the Metro. BRTS cannot run on one or two corridors, it has to spread into the entire city. The BRTS development requires extensive planning and will consume extra resources and space,” said Secretary (Finance) Sanjay Kumar.

After making an estimate of the public travel requirement, RITES has recommended a multi-modal network on the basis of evaluation and consultation, which meant that the modes of transport should be planned to integrate with the Metro.

“Chandigarh, which has the per capita ownership of vehicles even double than Delhi, requires a systematic and advanced public transport network. After 10-15 years, only Metro would not provide a solution to the city’s traffic problems. Thus, integrated transport system should be considered,” said a senior RITES official associated with the project.

Eleven BRT corridors of 190.5 km length with an estimated cost of Rs 2857.5 crore were proposed by the RITES to be developed in integration with Metro in all the three phases.

... contd.