Open house: Should the non-operational BRTS lanes be opened for public use?

Prioritise convenience of daily commuters

It makes little sense to keep the BRTS lanes blocked when no buses have been running for years. These dedicated tracks occupy prime road space, while regular commuters suffer daily traffic jams. The project was meant to improve mobility, not restrict it. If the buses are not operational, the administration should allow public vehicles to use these lanes temporarily, at least during peak hours, until the system is revived. It's time to prioritise the convenience of citizens over bureaucratic rigidity. Anjandeep Bedi

Focus on reviving BRTS services

Opening BRTS lanes to general traffic would be a short-sighted decision. The system was designed to provide Amritsar with a sustainable, long-term public transport model. Once the lanes are opened to private vehicles, reclaiming them later for buses will be nearly impossible. Instead of dismantling the structure, the government should focus on reviving the BRTS operations through better management or PPP models. The lanes are a public asset - they need revival, not repurposing. Sukhwinder Singh

Allow partial access during rush hours

Both sides have valid concerns. Citizens face congestion daily, while the BRTS lanes lie idle, symbolising poor planning. However, rather than permanently opening the lanes, authorities could consider an interim solution - partial access during rush hours or for emergency vehicles. Meanwhile, the administration must publicly disclose its roadmap for restoring the BRTS. The city deserves clarity and action, not endless neglect. Transparent planning and adaptive use can turn this defunct project into a workable model again. Tania Mahajan

Explore low-cost revival strategies

Amritsar's BRTS was a visionary project that failed due to operational and administrative lapses and indifferent attitude of the consecutive governments, not design flaws. Completely opening the lanes to general traffic will erase years of investment and urban planning. Instead, authorities should explore low-cost revival strategies - leasing buses, integrating routes with e-rickshaw networks or converting lanes into a multimodal corridor. Abandoning the project would set a poor precedent for future public transport initiatives across Punjab. Dr Vikramjit

Idle lanes complicating local routes

Citizens are tired of waiting. The BRTS lanes have become monuments of neglect, dividing neighbourhoods and complicating local routes. The government keeps promising revival, but nothing happens on the ground. We pay taxes for usable infrastructure, not abandoned experiments. If the buses can't be restarted soon, at least open the lanes for public transport. People need relief, not another round of empty assurances. Jagdeep Singh

Open lanes to two-wheelers

As someone who rides to college every day, I find it ridiculous that we crawl through traffic while empty BRTS tracks run parallel to us. It feels like the city is punishing its own people for a failed plan. If authorities are serious about improving urban mobility, they should restart the service with modern buses or open the lanes to two-wheelers and carpools. Amritsar deserves smarter traffic solutions, not abandoned infrastructure. Pragati

Poorly maintained infra led to closure

YBRTS is the rapid transit system in Amritsar, also known as the Metro Bus. It was officially launched in January 2019, but has faced numerous challenges since its inception. Initially, it operated with 93 buses across a 31-km network connecting areas such as Attari Road, Verka Road and Jalandhar Road. At present, only one corridor remains operational, with just six buses running. The project has nearly collapsed due to the absence of a clear safety policy and poorly maintained infrastructure, which has resulted in accidents and thefts. Additionally, political neglect and a flawed initial design, which led to congestion and high costs, have caused the suspension and underutilisation of the service. It remains uncertain whether the project will ever function effectively again or if the last operational corridor will also be shut down permanently.

Sucha Singh Sagar Bullowal

Open corridors to reduce congestion

Since its inception, the BRTS project has been mired in political controversy, with various parties engaging in a credit war that delayed the much-hyped project launched by the erstwhile Akali government from becoming fully operational. In the absence of any mass transport system, such as an urban city bus or metro service in the holy city, the BRTS had been the only hope for Amritsar's residents. However, operational hurdles and political unwillingness have stalled the project, turning it into a white elephant, with hundreds of air-conditioned buses lying unused and gathering dust. Now, with increasing vehicular traffic on city roads and no signs of BRTS revival, the dedicated BRTS lanes should be opened to the general public to facilitate smoother traffic flow and reduce congestion. The dedicated lanes, which currently encroach upon road width, have been contributing to recurring traffic jams, accidents and snarls across the city. Anil Vinayak

Resume services for public convenience

Honestly speaking, the BRTS buses should be made operational again. This bus service had provided comfortable and affordable transportation for the public, especially for students and elderly people who needed to travel long distances. Moreover, a large number of trees were cut down and crores of rupees were spent during the construction of these routes. However, if the buses are not going to be restarted, then these dedicated corridors should be opened for public use to reduce traffic congestion and ensure smooth vehicular movement on the GT Road. Vijay Laxmi

Lanes can be used only for school vans

If the BRTS has been non-operational for more than a year and there is no realistic plan for revival, then temporarily opening the lanes to public use makes sense, but the move should be reversible if needed.

Efficient use of road space: If BRTS buses have been non-operational for a long time, the lanes are essentially wasted capacity. Opening them to general traffic can reduce congestion in mixed-use lanes.

Reduced traffic jams: In cities with high vehicle density, freeing up those reserved lanes could ease bottlenecks-especially during peak hours.

Public perception and equity: Citizens may view empty, exclusive lanes as unfair when traffic is heavy. Temporarily opening them could improve public sentiment toward city management.

Interim economic benefit: Better traffic flow can improve logistics and daily commute times, indirectly supporting local businesses.

The BRTS lanes can also be used only for School vans, electronic vehicles etc. Neeraj Gupta

Govt must respect taxpayer investment

The non-operational state of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in Amritsar has turned its exclusive corridors, from the ISBT terminal to Ranjit Avenue and Hall Gate, into silent, unused urban relics. These lanes, built with crores of public funds and originally meant to offer swift, eco-friendly transport, now remain barricaded while daily commuters continue to suffer gridlocks on GT Road, Court Road and Mall Road. Opening BRTS lanes for regulated public use appears both logical and equitable. This would not only reduce traffic congestion but also prevent encroachment, garbage dumping and infrastructural decay visible along stretches near Verka Chowk and the Amritsar Bus Stand. Allowing two-wheelers, emergency vehicles and public transport through controlled access, speed limits and surveillance could ensure safety while preserving structural integrity. However, the government must retain flexibility to restore BRTS services, if revival becomes viable. Therefore, temporary utilisation without dismantling core infrastructure would respect taxpayer investment, enhance urban mobility and transform dormant corridors into functional civic assets rather than symbols of administrative stagnation. Preetpal Singh Chhina

Turned into an accident-prone zone

The lackadaisical approach of the Local Bodies Ministry of the Punjab Government has deeply disappointed the city's bus commuters, primarily students, labourers, working women and employees, as the BRTS bus service has remained suspended since July 2, 2023. The special corridor that was once built for the smooth operation of Metro buses has now turned into an accident-prone zone. More than half a dozen innocent people have lost their lives in accidents along this stretch. The Municipal Corporation authorities have completely failed to maintain the corridor. Most of the iron grills have been stolen and the low-level roofs of the abandoned metro stations have become hazardous structures that endanger commuters. It would be extremely difficult and unjustifiable to demand the demolition of the bus corridor, considering the enormous cost Amritsar has already paid for its establishment. According to reliable sources, the land of the old Sabzi Mandi, located just outside Hall Gate was mortgaged to a bank to raise funds for the construction of the BRTS corridor. Furthermore, more than 500 century-old trees, including Peepal, Dalbergia sissoo (Sheesham or Tahli), Neem and Mulberry (Shehtoot), were felled to pave the way for its construction. Therefore, responsible citizens of Amritsar cannot tolerate the idea of demolishing such a costly and significant public infrastructure. Instead, Amritsar Vikas Manch, an NGO working for the holistic development of the holy city since July 1991, strongly demands the resumption of the people-friendly BRTS service. Reviving this system will undoubtedly help streamline city traffic and reduce the overwhelming number of overcrowded e-rickshaws on the roads. An awakened citizen passing along Verka Bypass today cannot help but feel disheartened at the sight of the rotting fleet of 92 abandoned metro buses that are a painful reminder of government apathy and wasted public investment. Kulwant Singh Ankhi

Callous waste of public funds

The BRTS in Amritsar was the brainchild of the then Akali-BJP government. The system was introduced without conducting any proper study or feasibility assessment. The planners simply copied the model implemented in a city like Indore, without understanding the local mindset and the people's approach toward public transport. This project has divided major city roads into two narrow lanes, consuming much of the available road space and leading to frequent traffic snarls. A poorly thought-out idea has ultimately proved to be a white elephant. Over time, the buses have deteriorated due to their prolonged non-operation and many unfortunate lives have been lost because of the hazards created by the BRTS infrastructure. The present government, setting aside political considerations, should consider dismantling the BRTS entirely for the greater good of the so-called Smart City, Amritsar. The project has turned out to be nothing more than a callous waste of public funds and a burden on the exchequer. Brig Harcharan Singh

Underutilised lanes occupy valuable space

The BRTS lanes in Amritsar should be opened for public use to ease the growing traffic congestion across the city. With roads narrowing due to rampant encroachments and limited traffic management, these underutilised lanes occupy valuable space that could significantly improve mobility. Most intersections either lack functional traffic lights or witness poor compliance with traffic rules, worsening the situation. Allowing slow-moving vehicles, two-wheelers and three-wheelers to exclusively use BRTS lanes would distribute traffic more efficiently while keeping the main roads free for cars and larger vehicles. This segregation can help maintain a smoother and safer traffic flow across the city. Instead of remaining unused or mismanaged, BRTS infrastructure should serve the citizens effectively. Opening these lanes is a practical, low-cost solution to decongest Amritsar's busy roads and make daily commuting faster, safer and more organised for everyone. Pearl Kamra