The Times of India             13.02.2014

MC meeting today on BRTS approval

LUDHIANA: An emergency house meeting of the municipal corporation has been called on Wednesday to get approval for the Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) in the city. The meeting has been called as emergency, keeping in mind the model code of conduct that would come into force due to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, after which the project could be delayed indefinitely.

The detailed project report of the BRTS has already been prepared by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIBD), with an estimate of Rs1,250 crore for the same. Once the project gets the nod of the house, it will be discussed with officials of the Ministry of Urban Development in New Delhi on Friday.

"Once we get a nod from the central government, funds from JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) will float in for the project," asserted additional commissioner Isha Kalia. The 39-km BRTS will be constructed in various parts of the city, and will provide relief to people from traffic snarls, as the flyovers will have separate Volvo buses running on it, with Jagraon Bridge Flyover as the main junction.

The project will have two lines -- Ferozepur Road to Jagraon Bridge Flyover, and Vishkarma Chowk to Jagraon Bridge Flyover. Major roads of the city -- including Hambran Road, Rahon Road, and Gill Road, will be connected to the BRTS line. The decision to make the project a priority was taken by deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal during his visit to the city on Monday.