Call it lack of planning on the part of Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda) or absence of foresight. Around Rs5 crore spent on a road in Bopal may go down the drain as it is likely to be dug up again after six months for construction of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridor.
Auda started the project of resurfacing the road, constructing the central verge and installing streetlights on the main road of Bopal at a cost of around Rs5 crore in March second half. In the last week of March, Auda proposed to develop a BRTS corridor in Bopal for taking the bus network to Ghuma. The standing committee of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) approved the proposal at its meeting on April 10.
As a result, the road will be dug up again and money spent on the road will go in waste. Auda officials tried to defend themselves by saying that they had stopped the work of erecting the central verge and streetlights. Moreover, AMC will use the existing road for BRTS corridor so that they would not have to spend money on construction of road. “They will just need to increase road width, so whatever money we have spent will not go waste,” said an Auda official.
However, AMC officials have a different view. “Whether the road can be used for BRTS corridor will be known only after the feasibility has been carried out as not only the design but also road construction method differs,” said a senior official of AMC’s engineering department. It might take six months to start work of corridor construction in Bopal, he added.
According to Dinesh Dabhi, sarpanch of Bopal, Auda changed its plans and design of the road in Bopal many times. “First, Auda planned BRTS route in Bopal. They dumped the idea and decided to build a road with streetlights and dividers. However, the project was transferred to the state government’s road and building department, but again Auda was asked to build the road. Now the work has been started and Auda has announced the building of corridor for BRTS. Lack of planning results in wasting people’s money,” said Dabhi.
While welcoming the move to bring BRTS to Bopal, Dabhi said that Auda should construct the internal roads before starting BRTS corridor construction.
When contacted, Auda chairman Dharmendra Shah replied that he was not aware whether work was in progress on the proposed BRTS route. “I will inquire into the matter,” he said.
