Rs 600-cr BRTS in Vadodara to have a 52-km network

The BRT system in Vadodara is slated to be different from the existing one in Ahmedabad as it aims to provide an alternate Integrated Public Transit System (IPTS). “The feasibility report and further plans will not focus entirely on the BRTS but on a complete integrated system of public transport. While the BRTS will concentrate on the core areas of the city,local buses are to support this as feeders,” said H M Shivanand Swamy,associate professor at CEPT.

Swamy,who heads the project,has been associated with similar projects for BRTS in Ahmedabad.

In the first phase,there will be around 80 stations — a station after every 500 metres — on a 40-kilometre stretch of the BRTS corridor.

The remaining stretch of 12 kilometres will be developed in the second phase.

The focal points on these corridors include Raj Mahal road,RC Dutt road, Kalaghoda,Kothi,BSNL T junction,Karelibaug,Lalbaug,Labour chokdi,Makarpura,Susan Circle,Old Padra road,GEB,Gotri,GSFC,Fatehgunj,airport,Waghodia road and Baroda Dairy.

Though the limitation of road widths in Vadodara is considered as one of the concerns for the planning team at CEPT,in the first phase,the corridors have been restricted to the inner city areas.

At present,nearly one lakh passengers use the bus service in Vadodara on daily basis. There is a fleet of 90 CNG buses (63 mini and 27 regular buses). These ply on 40 different routes with 124 stops.