Bus project is really an urban development plan

Shivanand Swamy

As cities expand, people move across greater physical distances for their work, studies, shopping and recreation. One of the biggest questions that cities are facing is how to deal with the immense movement of people. Ordinarily, we see public transport buses weave in and out of mixed traffic on roads. This causes problems for both: the passengers in terms of alighting and disembarking as well as other traffic causing delays and congestion.

BRTS — A System for all road users
The Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) is a concept that details out a dedicated traffic lane for the movement of public transport buses in the system. It is a high-quality, high-capacity transit system that delivers fast, comfortable, accessible, convenient and cost-effective urban mobility. In a BRT system, since the vehicles travel in exclusive lanes, they avoid congestion on the roads.

There is provision for segregated right-of-way infrastructure, rapid and frequent bus operations and easy boarding, alighting and transfers. This, as a system, provides flexibility. There is a possibility for expansion with evolving markets. Segregated bus lanes also mean improvements in mobility and safety for other traffic.

There is an invariable tendency to compare the BRTS with a rapid metro rail system. While the advantages of the metro system are many, the BRTS scores over the former in several respects.

First of all, the BRTS can provide rapid services at a fraction of the cost of a metro system since it relies mostly on the existing road network. If properly designed, it can service more neighbourhoods. The flexibility is also greater and the necessity for infrastructure, lesser. Hence, it works on a value for money concept.

The concept of BRTS is to encourage more people on the public transit system which, with high-quality services, is easily feasible. It is, therefore, about the equitable sharing of road space. Today, the traffic is dominated by personalised motor vehicles. A very little proportion of public road space is taken up by shared vehicles.

The BRTS allows the right of way to those thousands who do not own personalised motor vehicles. It provides a new alternative of travel for people who have traditionally been excluded from any form of urban transport. The physically challenged, parents with small children, pregnant women, senior citizens and school students will benefit.

Designed as closed system,  highest level of BRT
There are two kinds of systems possible in the BRT: one is an open system and the other a closed system. In a closed system, generally developed as a trunk-and-feeder system, only BRTS buses operate in an exclusive bus way. This gives greater control over schedules. Junction management is simpler.

In an open system, the operators run their buses, not only in the dedicated bus way, but also with mixed traffic. While this gives greater coverage with minimal transfers, schedules are likely to be compromised and junction management is likely to be complicated. In fact, this has been one of the main problems affecting the Delhi and Pune BRT systems. Janmarg has been designed as a closed system. The AMTS will provide complimentary services.

The Ahmedabad BRT has focused on proper operations and management control through the use of ITS components. Thus, each bus is fitted with a GPRS unit that is linked to a central control centre.

Every BRT bus can be tracked on a large screen and instructions passed to the driver to maintain schedules. Passengers at bus stops will know exactly when the next bus will arrive through LED displays.

The buses convey an image of elegance and sophistication with automatic doors and a flat floor inside. The bus stops have been designed to match the bus floor height so that commuters can simply walk into the bus.

This will be a huge advantage for the physically challenged and senior citizens. All ticketing will be off-board, initially with paper tickets and smart cards and eventually moving onto smart cards only. The fare system will be integrated with the AMTS system so that commuters will pay as a single journey instead of purchasing two separate tickets for AMTS and BRTS.

Associate director of CEPT University and team leader for the BRT project