Roadmap for 190.5 kms of BRT drawn

As per the plan,RITES has proposed a commuter-friendly Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system with a total of 11 corridors. The Rs 2857.5-crores project,which will have a total length of 190.5 kilometres,will cover cities like Chandigarh,Panchklula,Mohali,Kharar,Zirakpur,Kalka,Pinjore,Dera Bassi,Baddi,Kot Bhela Alipur and Nalagarh.

The BRT corridors will be connected through eight proposed intercity and intracity bus terminals and depots to be completed in three phases. Though the first phase will come up in the next five years,the project completion year has been proposed to be 2031,the RITES report said.

Apart from the BRT corridors,the project focuses on upgradation and widening of roads and the estimated cost for it has been calculated as Rs 3,154 crore. The total length of the roads to be upgraded and widened is 594 km.

For places,where the connectivity rules in favour of trains rather than buses,RITES has proposed commuter rail services. This includes electrification and doubling of existing tracks —- Ambala to Kalka and Chandigarh to Ludhiana via Mohali. The consultancy wing of Indian Railways,RITES,has estimated the cost for the project at Rs 2,400 crore. Besides these,new dual tracks for commuters and freight from Pinjore to Nalagarh via Baddi has been proposed at an estimated cost of Rs 525 crore.

Features of MRTS
Extension of Mass Rapid Transport System to cover wide area
Extension of commuter rail system up to Mohali,Panchkula and new townships
Densification of mass transit corridors
Transport integration
Rationalisation of local bus system and its augmentation
Improvement in traffic management
Provision of transport hubs in the periphery of the city