Work on the 20-km Pendurthi-Dwarakanagar corridor of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) has hit a roadblock after a deadlock over the expansion of road at arterial points. The width of road at arterial junctions is going to be a major hindrance. One estimate puts such junctions between 10 and 15 with ‘localised problems'. If the problem is not ironed out, it is likely to hit the December 2010 deadline for completion of the corridor. For instance, three arterial junctions between Pendurthi and NAD Kotta Road are proving to be a problem now. More space is required to make room for free left turn and bus shelters. At three junctions, the road width is about 90 ft whereas the required width is 130 ft. At Pendurthi, Vepagunta and Baji Junction, on the left side, an additional 20 ft is required to provide a ‘free left' turn and to accommodate bus shelters as well. The owners of properties at Pendurthi are insisting that on both sides only 10 ft be taken. Officials say unless an additional 10 feet is taken the provision for left turn cannot be made. Because of disagreement over 200 m of road work on a 1 km stretch cannot be taken up.
‘Localised problems'
At all the three places bus shelter are also to be provided. If the GVMC site is available nearby, it can be used for a bus shelter. But because it is not there the stop cannot be shifted too far as it would inconvenience passengers, maintains an official. There are localised problems at other places too along the corridor. The Pendurthi Corridor poses more problems as it is densely populated. “There is still time. If the land is handed over in the next one month, or even two months, the entire road can be laid and other work completed by December 2010 as scheduled,” says an official. The contractor is ready with machinery to go about his work. But if there is delay beyond that, the deadline might be missed.
Two BRTS corridors are taken up under the Centrally-sponsored Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The Pendurthi corridor that includes a flyover at Asilmetta costs Rs.223 crores. The other corridor from Pendurthi to Dwarakanagar via Adavivaram costs Rs.179 crores. It also faces land-related problems.
