Pune: Dapodi-Nigdi BRTS route to finally take off after October 15

The dedicated BRTS track on the Pune-Mumbai Highway, in Chinchwad. (Express photo by Manoj More)

THE much-delayed BRTS route from Dapodi-Nigdi on Pune-Mumbai highway is likely to finally take off after October 15. According to officials of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), the trial run will begin from October 15 and in the next two-three days, a full-fledged BRTS will start. The PCMC had earlier fixed the start date on October 1. It has postponed the launch date thrice.

The work on the BRTS route on the 13-km Dapodi-Nigdi stretch has been delayed by three years. The tender process for the route was carried out in 2013 and the work orders were given in 2014. The combined team of PCMC and PMPML, which failed to get the route on track, has been under fire from commuters and activists in Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Activists have blamed the “lack of will” and “lethargy” from the PCMC to push the route work and alleviate the sufferings of the commuters. But the PCMC has contended that the delay has been due to the safety audit ordered by the Bombay High Court. “A resident had approached the High Court, which asked PCMC to take all safety measures before starting the route. Accordingly, we appointed IIT Powai to carry out the survey and suggest safety measures. IIT Powai has submitted 140-page report, which will be placed before the High Court,” said PCMC’s BRTS spokesperson Vijay Bhojne.

He cited the court case as the sole reason for the delay. Bhojne said they have submitted before the court the “success story” of two other BRTS routes being implemented by PCMC. “The Nashik Phata-to-Wakad route and Sangvi-Kiwale route have been successfully implemented by the PCMC. Not a single accident has taken place on this route in two years… this and other relevant facts have been submitted before the court,” he said.

In front of PCMC headquarters, only the BRTS stop is seen while the dedicated track is still missing. (Express photo by Manoj More)

However, civic activist Shridhar Chalkha said the PCMC should have thought about the safety measures much before it started laying the route. “It started creating the dedicated track in 2014 and since then the two-wheeler riders and motorists have suffered a lot. This is because the length of the 61-metre highway was drastically reduced. Just when the highway had been widened and residents were getting a better experience of a jam-free ride, the PCMC went for shrinking the size of the road for the BRTS track. As a result, traffic chaos has become the order of the day on the Pune-Mumbai highway stretch in PCMC jurisdiction,” Chalkha said.

Meanwhile, Bhojne said the ITMS work, appointment of wardens and security guards on the route would be carried out PMPML while the PCMC would instal signages, automatic doors and look after the electrification work. “We are sure PMPML will do the job at the earliest,” he said.

Bhojne said both Nashik Phata-to-Wakad and Sangvi-Kiwale routes have achieved major success in terms of ridership and revenue. “While Nashik Phata-to-Wakad has seen a rise of 67 per cent daily ridership and 43 per cent revenue per month, the other route has seen a jump of 34 per cent in revenue and 38 per cent in ridership,” he said.
As for the fourth BRTS route from Kalewadi to Dehu, Bhojne said 95 per cent of its work has been completed. “Currently, the route is stuck in land acquisition for a two-km stretch. We expect to start the route only by January next year,” he said.

As to whether commuters would be given free trips for a month on the route like it happened in Pune city, PCMC officials said the decision was taken by NCP leader Ajit Pawar then and they were not sure whether BJP would extend the same relief to commuters in Pimpri-Chinchwad.