It is a matter of pride for Ahmedabad. Not only because the government of India conferred on it the Best Mass Rapid Transit System in India award for the Janmarg Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) on Thursday, but also because it is a historic and path guiding city to introduce the first modern, intra-city transport system at a time when the emphasis is on rail metro project.
Prime minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday gave away the award to Ahmedabad city Mayor Kanaji Thakore and municipal commissioner IP Gautam, at a function organised at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi.
Minister for urban development Nitin Patel and principal secretary, urban development Gauri Kumar were also present on the occasion.
Gautam told DNA that the success of Janmarg BRTS and even the award is ‘by the people and for the people’. “The strategy of Ahmedabad transport is people centric. It is focused on moving people and not traffic. We believe that all people, men and women, young and old and physically challenged should be able to move around in city with comfort. Efficiency, affordability, safety and security are central to the plan. It is to emphasise this that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has named the system ‘Janmarg’,” said Gautam.
Gautam said Ahmedabad has become a trendsetter by introducing BRTS, which is a cheaper than a metro rail and equally efficient.
Ahmedabad had sent in its entry to bag nomination in the category of Mass Rapid Transit System award. A committee headed by former secretary in ministry of urban transport system, Anil Baijal, inspected progress and implementation of all nominees in the award race. The BRTS projects in Pune and Ahmedabad were approved when Baijal was secretary in ministry of urban transport.
Shivanand Swamy, chief planner of the Janmarg BRTS in Ahmedabad, said it was a challenge to implement the BRTS project on a 12.5 km stretch from RTO to Pirana in just two year’s time (the execution of the first stretch from RTO to Pirana began in 2007).
“But it feels great when we see 23,000 to 25,000 people commuting in Janmarg BRTS everyday. Janmarg BRTS is designed keeping in mind the requirement of Amdavadis,” said Swamy. BRTS earned Rs1.10 lakh a day even before completing two months to launch.
