Indore bus transport to witness facelift

Indore may be given priority among the four cities selected for Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM).

The city's plan of Rs 868 crore, which was submitted by Indore City Transport Services Limited (ICTSL), is expected to get the Centre's nod by the end of this month.

Once sanctioned, the project is expected to be complete in two years, disclosed Indore District Collector Vivek Agrawal.

Addressing a workshop on management of urban public transport system, Agrawal said, "The cities of Madhya Pradesh have been taken over by motor vehicles. To solve traffic congestion during peak hours, there should be different time schedules for opening and closing of markets in different areas of the city and the same should be applied to schools and offices."

Techniques of public transport system must be evaluated according to cities' requirements. To a query whether ICTSL was thinking of providing concession to senior citizens, students and freedom fighters as being done by Jaipur Transport System, Vivek Agrawal said that the company has already introduced the pass system and added that there was no need of further concession at present.

"Before implementing the public transport system, the requirement and the interests of the common men and the environment should be considered," said Minister for Transport Himmat Kothari.

Agarwal also gave full credit to Indore media behind the success of city bus services. The media has left no stone unturned for the publicity of the project, he said, adding that ICTSL buses have captured 60 per cent of the total share of the city transportation.

"Develop a high quality transport system that appeals to all classes of society and suits their pockets. I think BRTS is the only solution for public transport in this city because of its features of low cost, high capacity and flexibility," said O P Agrawal, joint director, ministry of urban development.