Long BRTS routes for short journeys

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 2

Even as the Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS), with its fleet of 93 buses, trying to maintain a frequency of four minutes, is getting popular with masses gradually, a few are unhappy due to them travelling extra to reach their destinations.

An apt example of the same is a person wishing to get to SSSS Chownk or Celebration Mall from Novelty Chowk or from any other point on the Mall road extending till Kacheri Chowk. While the BRTS helps one travelling from Celebration Mall to any destination up to Kacheri chowk, the absence of any back route makes him travel to the railway station, Celebration Mall and then board another bus for Kacheri Chowk.

“If one has to travel from Novelty Chowk to SSSS Chowk (less than a km), he or she has to cover the entire distance from here to the railway station and then to Celebration Mall before reaching SSSS Chowk. It is like travelling six or seven kilometres extra,” said a passenger, Swarn Singh.

Other examples are areas near Putlighar, Guru Nanak Dev University and Khalsa College to India Gate.

The buses, after reaching Kacheri Chowk, take a turn towards the railway station from where they take U-turn to reach the GT road. “If there is a heavy traffic jam on the way, the journey takes more time,” said another passenger, Joginder Singh.

Residents said the authorities concerned should look into it. “A change in true sense is when people prefer public transport to their personal vehicles. That will happen only if people are made to spend less and offered convenient journey,” said another resident, Suresh Kumar.