The Bus Rapid Transit System between Hubballi and Dharwad (HD-BRTS), which has already missed various deadlines is likely to start functioning from January, according to officials.
Additional Chief Secretary of Urban Development Mahendra Jain and Commissioner of Directorate of Urban Land Transport Darpan Jain made this announcement here on Thursday after reviewing the progress of ongoing works.
Addressing a joint press conference, both officials admitted that there had been long delay in execution of the ambitious project and they had taken corrective measures to expedite the work including forfeiting the security deposit of a contractor.
Trial run
They said that the works were likely to get completed shortly and the trial run might begin in a span of few weeks. They had inspected the ongoing works including the construction of BRTS depots, flyovers, interchange, among others on Wednesday and Thursday.
Mr. Darpan Jain said that out of the total 35 km work, 20 km of road had been laid and work on laying another 6 km of road was going on at brisk pace. In Dharwad limits, work on shifting public utilities on the 6 km long stretch was under way, he said.
He said the BRTS bus stations would have advanced facilities and GPS devices would be installed on the buses. To make it convenient for commuters, smart cards would be introduced.
HD-BRTS would soon enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) for operating buses under BRTS. Since NWKRTC was already running buses on the route, an agreement would be soon reached on revenue sharing, recruitment of staff , training and related issues.
To queries regarding the inordinate delay in executing the work, both the officials clarified that pending cases in courts and changes in contract awarded to construction of Dharwad Old Bus Station were reasons for the delay. They also clarified that there would be no further delay in commissioning the HD-BRTS.
They also informed that an amount of ₹3 crore of a contractor had been forfeited by HD-BRTS for inordinate delay in executing the work.