Commuters plan huge protest to demand BRTS buses under flyover

HUBBALLI: The BRTS has skipped four main stops — Navalur, Navanagar Junction, Amargol and Unkal Cross — by constructing flyovers there. These stops are surrounded by heavily populated, semi-urban areas. As BRTS stops are provided at a distance of over 1km, people prefer non-BRTS vehicles.
Seeing this, BRTS has started feeder buses from Navalur to the nearest BRTS station. However, people of Navalur and the other three stops are not keen on feeder buses, but want BRTS buses to ply under the flyover. Though BRTS has deployed feeder buses at Navalur from Tuesday, people are not availing them and using non-BRTS buses like NWKRTC and Bendre buses.
Pundalik Talwar, former vice-chairman, APMC, and a resident of Navalur, said the waiting time for buses has doubled. “First, we wait for the feeder bus which cannot start with just 2-3 passengers. Then, we struggle to get into the BRTS station and bus in a longer queue. Though they claim buses are running at intervals of 2 minutes, it’s almost 10-15 minutes during peak hours. We end up standing for the entire journey. We’re planning a protest to push for BRTS buses plying under the flyover,” he explained.
Swami Mahajanshettar, president, Jai Karnataka Yuvaka Mandal Navanagar, said Navanagar Junction is the central point for 4-5 villages and areas like Gamanagatti, Sutagatti, Amargol, Panchakshari Nagar, Adhyapak Nagar and Shant Nagar. “As the junction stop is skipped after construction of the flyover, we strongly demand nonBRTS modes like NWKRTC and private buses. Moreover, BRTS stations are most unscientific for commuters and it’s very difficult to switch buses. If they provide feeder buses, we may lose NWKRTC and private buses,” he said.
Shabbir Yaragatti, a trader in Amargol, said BRTS planners have completely neglected the area which is among the biggest areas of the city. “We were never intimated that our stop will be shifted to APMC or Navanagar, which are about 2km away. If they provide feeder buses, it’s again a herculean task to switch buses. If BRTS buses come under the flyover, we may use them,” he said.
Muttu Patil, a resident of Unkal Cross, said if BRTS buses ply on the road below the flyover, residents of the area may consider travelling by them