145;BRTS project will be completed by Jan146;

At present, the pilot BRTS is on Swargate-Katraj-Hadapsar route and Pardeshi says that soon other routes too will follow, especially the Airport-Baner-Balewadi route. 8220;A study, conducted by a non-governmental organisation, clearly shows that a large percentage use public transport. The BRTS is the easiest mode of transport, and at present, only 12 per cent use the public transport while 88 per cent use private mode of transport. 8220;Those campaigning against the BRTS seem to have some vested interest. We want to discourage the use of private transport and improve the BRTS,8217;8217; he said.

The BRTS project covers a total distance of 117 km in two phases under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission JNNURM. The central government had sanctioned Rs 62 crore for the implementation of the BRTS. The urban development department provided Rs 476 crore and it has now been escalated to Rs 773 crore. The civic body attributes jump to the rise in cost of construction material.