Why I don’t buy BRT

Traffic woes are sadly common man’s problems. When a dignitary (and I use that word loosely) comes, barricaded roads, police patrolling, manually controlled signals and preferential treatment to the cavalcade precludes himer from facing the problems faced by lesser mortals. We may or may not solve these problems. And whether Tata creates an Indian Volkswagen or Ford makes profit, face it, mass transit is the only way to go forward. This, they say will automatically solve the traffic woes. The moribund PMT in Pune is so bad that even someone living on daily wages does not prefer that mode of transport.

Indian politicians are known for their ingenuity in creating income sources under the table and it is no wonders that that breed in Pune in cohorts with its bureaucratic counterparts would jump on something as lucrative as a Bus Rapid Transit System.

The way the deal was passed – well, it smells fishy for sure. The core point perhaps is not on the merits and demerits of the system, but rather it benefits Suresh Kalmadi and hence Ajit Pawar is feeling sore about it – ideological differences between Congress and Nationalist Congress not withstanding.

But here is a practical problem…the pictures of the scheme and some material that I have read indicate this:

1. The buses will run in the center of the street, two lanes, one on each side, will be reserved for this.
2. Two lanes on each side will be reserved for normal vehicular traffic.
3. One lane on each side will be reserved for cycles and pedestrians.
4. Special traffic lights will be mounted to give preferential treatment to the buses and also to enable the pedestrians crossing roads who use BRT.

Road conditions in Pune are well know…we cannot get a straight road constructed, without potholes and properly marked lanes, then this special requirement for BRT is certainly difficult – not impossible, but difficult to achieve.

Road manners and mentality of Pune drivers is also notorious. The special traffic lights for buses and pedestrians will only bring out jealousy and road rage.

Experts have already expressed concerns that if we plan to have two or three stops in span of a kilometer, it will never allow the bus to go at a high speed, making the Rapid in BRT inconsequential.

And most important, the above plan suggests that wherever BRT goes, we will need a dedicated 8-lane highway. Let’s face it – Pune is not Atlanta. And in the present scenario, if we talk of demolishing existing structures and widen roads, I am not sure how much the BRT project will be mired in litigations, down right hooliganism and corruption.

Puneiets are known as nay-sayers. I have done my part of it! But what pains me is without much debate and expert opinions; a huge investment is being planned. At the end if this scheme is not as successful as it is touted, who pays for it?