BRTS expected to be functional by June 15

Hubballi: The Hubballi-Dharwad Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) between the two cities can be expected to become operational by June 15. On Tuesday, Managing Director of BRTS M.G. Hiremath assured that the project will be completed, after much delay, by June 15.

Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, MP Prahlad Joshi and MLA Arvind Bellad were at the site on Tuesday to inspect the progress of the work. The project of a dedicated public transport lane between Hubballi and Dharwad has witnessed many missed deadlines, irking local residents. Hiremath told Shettar that minor pending works would be completed in a week, but completion of the entire BRTS stretch would last until October.

Shettar inspected the works from Hosur Circle and was informed that the water-logging problem prevalent there would be rectified in a week’s time, after the junction improvement works are done. He also had a discussion with the officials on the bus interchange terminal at Hosur. He later visited the new bus terminal, which is a short distance away from the old one. Officials also asserted that the new bus terminal, which is built on 16 acres of land at a cost of Rs. 52 crore, was also nearly completed.

Hiremath informed that the new bus terminal would have entry and exit points on Hosur-Unakal Road and that there would be no entry to public transport vehicles from Hubballi-Dharwad road. It would also have a parking facility for two-wheelers and four-wheelers on the road. Long route buses, premium services and feeder services will originate from the new terminal. It will have four air-conditioned lounges, six lifts, two escalators and 28 platforms, with six for the BRTS feeder service buses; and the terminal will operate over 1600 schedules. The entire premises of the bus terminal will be under surveillance cameras. A total of 33 cameras will be installed to make sure that any other vehicle entering the dedicated lane is penalised.

Speaking to presspersons, Shettar said that there was a delay in the completion of the project because of the opposition to shifting the dargah at Bhairidevarakoppa. He said that the cooperation of the people was necessary to ensure that the project is completed early and hoped that the officials would resolve the issues soon. MP Joshi accused the previous Congress government in the State for causing the delay in the project.