Finally, inauguration of BRTS project on Jan 25

Charanjit Singh Teja
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, January 23

After jumping several deadlines, the state government, finally, is set to inaugurate the much hyped BRTS project in the city on January 25. Minister for Local Governments, Navjot Singh Sidhu, will re-inaugurate the project. Earlier, it was inaugurated by former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal in October 2016, just before the Assembly elections. To get political advantage, Sukhbir did not wait for its completion and inaugurated it in a hurry, say political observers.

Now, officials of the Punjab Public Works Department have claimed completion of the project. Before the Assembly elections, the Congress government had assured to complete the project within six months, but took two years. Punjab Metro Bus Service Society had been plying eight buses from the railway station to Attari bypass.

The metro bus operating company has been conducting trial run for the last few days. Now, almost 23 buses are on road. The company will ply more than 90 buses on 31-km routes.

PWD officials said the routes from the railway station to Attari bypass, railway station to Golden Gate via bus terminal and to Verka were ready for transportation.

JS Sodhi, Executive Engineer, PWD, said, “Except for lifts at Rambagh, the work has been completed. The damaged grills are being repaired. The project has been handed over to Punjab Metro Bus Service Society.”

According to information, the government will offer free travel for three months. Students and elderly can travel for free even after three months. Navjot Singh Sidhu may announce more facilities too during the inauguration.