‘Resume Metro bus service to Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar

Amritsar, October 19

Local NGOs have urged Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Transport Minister Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and the district administration to resume the city metro bus service under the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) that was launched with much fanfare on August 17 from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar, to Gheo Mandi Chowk near the Golden Temple. The bus route was suspended two weeks after the start, due to demonstration by private mini-bus operators.

Office bearers of Fly Amritsar Initiative and Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) expressed their displeasure that city airport is the only international airport in the country that is without public transport connectivity with city centre and other cities of Punjab and neighbouring states despite receiving many international and domestic flights.

On the contrary, state transport department runs Punbus and PRTC Volvo/Mercedes deluxe bus service from many cities of Punjab to Delhi.

Sameep Singh Gumtala, Fly Amritsar Initiative, said passengers from Punjab, especially the NRI diaspora, and even airlines have often expressed their discontent for Amritsar Airport not having inter-city and inter-state bus connectivity. The long-standing demand was partially met with the start of metro bus service from the airport to Gheo Mandi Chowk, located at walking distance from the holy precincts of the Golden Temple.

The administration though has been trying hard time to make Metro Bus a success, but most of the routes are not succeeding due to various reasons. However, the bus route from the airport to Gheo Mandi was successful from day one with ridership increasing to over 1,400 passengers daily. Thousands of travellers on this route in future will reduce the number of vehicles on roads, said Gumtala. — TNS

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