If officials are to be believed, the much delayed Hubballi-Dharwad Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) between the twin cities will become operational by June 15. However, the project is likely to be totally completed only by October.
The project of having a dedicated public transport lane between Hubballi and Dharwad has already seen several deadlines being missed, much to the angst of local residents.
On Tuesday, Managing Director of BRTS M.G. Hiremath made the assurance of completing the project by June 15 to former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who along with Pralhad Joshi, MP, and Arvind Bellad, MLA, inspected the progress of the work.
Mr. Hiremath told Mr. Shettar that minor pending works would be completed within a week, but clarified that the public would have to wait till October for completion of the entire BRTS stretch.
Water-logging problem
Mr. Shettar who began the inspection of the works from Hosur Circle was informed that the water-logging problem would be resolved within a week’s time after completion of the junction improvement works.
He then had a discussion with the officials on the bus interchange terminal at Hosur before visiting the new bus terminal a short distance away. Being built at a cost of ₹52 crore on around 16 acres of land, the new bus terminal is almost completed, the officials said.
Mr. Hiremath said the new bus terminal would have entry and exit points on Hosur-Unakal Road and there would be no entry from Hubballi-Dharwad Road for public transport vehicles. However, there would be parking facility for two-wheelers and four-wheelers on this road, similar to the one at the main entrance of the bus terminal, he said.
He clarified that long route buses, premium services and feeder services would originate from the new terminal. There would be four air-conditioned lounges, six lifts, two escalators and 28 platforms, including six for BRTS feeder service buses. As over 1,600 schedules would be operated from the new terminal, the entire premises would be under surveillance cameras, he said.
Surveillance cameras
An officer of the IT room said installation of 33 surveillance cameras on the BRTS stretch would ensure that any other vehicle entering the dedicated lane is penalised.
Later, Mr. Shettar told presspersons that he would prevail upon the present dispensation to expedite the work on BRTS. Admitting that there was inordinate delay, he said people’s cooperation would help in completing the project early. He pointed out that because of the opposition to shifting the dargah at Bhairidevarakoppa, the project had been affected. However, he hoped that the officials would get it resolved soon. Mr. Joshi, however, blamed the previous Congress government in the State for the delay.
