The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) on Monday started the trial run for its city bus service on six routes. The bus service, however, is expected to become operational only by September-end.
Saumya Srivastava, executive director of the NMRC, flagged off the trial run on Monday. The trial started from Botanic Garden Metro station in Sector 38A at 10 am and continued till evening in Greater Noida areas. It will continue for the next four days.
The six routes of the service will cover Noida and Greater Noida’s most of the residential and industrial areas.
“It took a 35-passenger seat capacity bus 45 minutes to cover two routes in Noida in the morning and later the trial run was conducted in Greater Noida,” said Srivastava. During the trial run, a traffic police team was also travelling in the bus with the officials.
The new bus service will boast of advance facilities, including a panic button for safety of women passengers.
“The trial started with one low-floor, CNG bus covering all six routes. With the help of the trial, we are conducting a technical feasibility study on all routes. These six routes cover most of the busy areas and the trial run helps us identify intersections where the bus can face problems negotiating with traffic. Once all technical challenges are identified, we will address them,” said PD Upadhyay, general manager (finance) of the NMRC.
{{/usCountry}}“The trial started with one low-floor, CNG bus covering all six routes. With the help of the trial, we are conducting a technical feasibility study on all routes. These six routes cover most of the busy areas and the trial run helps us identify intersections where the bus can face problems negotiating with traffic. Once all technical challenges are identified, we will address them,” said PD Upadhyay, general manager (finance) of the NMRC.
{{/usCountry}}The NMRC, however, has not yet announced when the facility will begin. According to the earlier deadline, it was to start in June. But now, it is expected to begin in September.
An incomplete bus depot, no agency hired to run the facility and no construction of bus shelters are some of the reasons for the delay in providing the service.
Also, the NMRC is yet to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Uttar Pradesh state roadways transport corporation (UPSRTC) that will run the facility. “We are working on the MoU guidelines and it will be signed very soon,” said Upadhyay.
A senior official of the UPSRTC said that the MoU is likely to be signed in August.
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