Proposed introduction of BRTS in Ludhiana to prove boon for township projects: Vikas Gupta

Ludhiana, May 19, 2014: Ludhiana city known as industrial hub of Punjab has grown manifold over the period. However, the local transportation system is lacking.
People mainly depend upon auto-rickshaws, which ply on almost all the major roads. City bus service is also there. It was started sometimes in the back.
Besides, city residents have their own vehicles. Still, all is not sufficient in view of growth and expansion of the city.  It is because of the fact that the population of the city has grown from 10.42 to 13.95 lakh during 1991-2001 period recording 38% decadal growth rate. The growth rate had been very rapid (50% plus) during the decades 1961-71, 1971-81 and 1981-91. Assuming high rate of growth the city estimates the population to be 32.96 lakh by 2021.
Earlier, the state government had a proposal to introduce Metro project in the city. This project was supposed to cost a huge amount of Rs.10,330 crore. However, at a later stage, the state government decided to introduce the internationally recognised Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) in Ludhiana. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has already given his nod to replicate this system during visit to Turkey last year. City Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria has also stated that they are seeking approval of general house of Municipal Corporation Ludhiana for BRTS. He has further stated that the objective is to solve traffic congestion in the city.
During his visit to to Turkey last year Sukhbir Singh Badal was apprised about features of BRTS in Istanbul. In Istanbul, more than 450 buses run on this system at an average speed of 35 KMPH. This system has reduced vehicular traffic by four lakh cars in the city as people prefer travelling on these buses which were safer faster and cheaper.
“Really, if BRTS is introduced in Ludhiana city, it will not only cope-up with the present problem of vehicular traffic congestion but also make available an opportunity to city residents to travel on buses under the proposed system”, said Vikas Gupta, Joint Managing Director (JMD), Earth Group.  Rather, people would be able to find a comfortable transportation system to easily reach on any corner of the city, which is not possible as of now.
Once BRTS introduced in city, it will also prove a boon for townships, including Earth Group’s 75 acre integrated township on Pakhowal road, coming up on four corners of the city. Agreeing to it, Gupta says, “People from in and around city and even from in and outside the state coming to meet their relatives and known ones in these future townships will get easy and comfortable mode of transportation”. He believes that introduction of BRTS in this industrial city will surely increase status of Ludhiana and Ludhianvis in eyes of outsiders.