128 buses on way to city, new routes identified
With the approval of a detailed project report (DPR) by the union ministry of urban development, the municipal corporation is all set to get a new fleet of 128 buses for the city. The ministry has approved Rs 50 crore for the purpose.
With the approval of a detailed project report (DPR) by the union ministry of urban development, the municipal corporation is all set to get a new fleet of 128 buses for the city. The ministry has approved Rs 50 crore for the purpose.
In the DPR submitted for approval of grant under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM), the MC had asked to add a fleet of 141 buses to be plied on 13 different routes, covering each corner of the city. After minor amendments, the DPR was approved on Wednesday by the department after deliberating on the proposal with MC commissioner Manprit Singh Chhatwal.
The ministry is to provide 80percent share for the project while rest of the amount is to be equally shared by the MC and the state government.
In the DPR, development of a ring-road around the city is also on the cards and buses are proposed to run on radial routes, designed on scientific modelling.
The work is likely to start after the matter of laying pipelines for compressed natural gas (CNG) is cleared by the Punjab and Haryana high court.
The nodal agency, Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), and Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board are at loggerheads in the court on the issue of permission rights in this zone due to which the pipeline connecting work got stopped.
The MC would also set up a CNG depot at Lamba Pind to fulfil the fuel needs of eco-friendly transport provisions in the city.
Talking to HT, MC commissioner MS Chattwal said, "In the DPR, we had tried to cover maximum areas of the city by creating provisions of mini buses for congested areas. Every minute detail and its justification had been discussed and the same was provided to the ministry, when demanded. Hopefully, soon a new and technologically advanced bus service would be available for residents of the city."
"We met almost all the criteria specified by the ministry except two: creation of a separate urban development fund and the facility of proper parking places in the city. We are in the process of meeting these too at the earliest," Chhatwal said.
"Once technical aspects of the DPR are cleared, we will float tenders to invite best bids for buses and other related infrastructure. The existing workshop would also be upgraded for necessary maintenance of the systems," he added.
Present status
The city bus service, started on August 2008 with much fanfare on four routes with a fleet of 16 buses, is facing rough time and, presently, buses are plying on two routes only: from Jalandhar to Kartarpur and from Jalandhar bus stand to the railway station. 15 busses are plying that demand early replacement in view of their condition.
Proposed Fleet
Normal big buses: 12
AC big buses: 13
Medium AC busses: 16
Medium non-AC buses: 46
Mini AC buses: 11
Minimum non-AC buses: 30
Bus Shelters: 81 (fitted with passenger information system)
Integrated Control Room to be set up
New Routes
Rama Mandi-Kartarpur
Railway Station - Rama Mandi
Bus stand -BSF Chowk
Bus stand-Kishangarh
Bus stand-Kartarpur
Bus stand-Verka Milk Plant
Bus stand-Jandu Singha
Bus stand-Lovely Professional University, Route1
Bus stand-Jamsher
Bus stand-Lambra
Bus stand-St Soldier School
Bus stand - LPU, Route2
Rama Mandi-Leather Complex
Ring-Road Proposed
Bus stand-PIMS-Urban Estate-Model Town-Wadala Chowk-120ft road-Babu Labh Singh Nagar-Workshop Chowk, Maqsunda, GT Road, PAP Chowk-Bus Stand