The city of Pune was the first in India to experiment with a Bus Rapid Transit system. PMPML started plying pilot routes in December 2006.

Routes Completed

Katraj - Swargate - Hadapsar. (Via Pune-Satara road, Shankarsheth road - 16.5 km)

Other Proposed Corridors

Katraj - Kharadi corridor.
Pune Station - Vimannagar Airport.
Vimannagar Airport - Lohegaon.
Vimannagar Airport - Vishrantwadi.
Dhanori - Yeroda.

PCMC keen to popularise BRTS

PUNE: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will conduct a promotion and outreach programme for a year to create awareness about the bus rapid transit system (BRTS) and has invited bids for appointing consultants to conduct the programme.

Dilip Kudale, coordinator, engineering department, said people need to be made aware of the workings of the BRTS to be launched by the civic body to ensure its success. "The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation had conducted an awareness programme before the launch of BRTS in Ahmedabad and had also initially offered free bus service to the local residents," he said.

Kudale said the civic body seeks to hire consultants for promotion and outreach by creating a structured framework for outreach, develop communication and marketing strategies, conduct programmes, involve media and evaluate the impact of outreach activities.

The implementation of BRTS in the civic limits was delayed due to the delay in finalising the purchase of buses by Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML). The BRTS buses in Pimpri-Chinchwad will have doors on the right side, unlike those in Pune where the buses have doors on the left side.

The civic body is developing four BRTS routes in the municipal limits under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. These are Pune-Mumbai highway, Aundh-Ravet Road, Kalewadi phata-Dehu Alandi road and Wakad-Nashik phata. The work of widening the Pune-Mumbai highway to 61 metres has been completed and the work of installing 16 BRTS bus shelters along the highway is in progress.

The work of widening the Aundh-Ravet Road has been delayed due to the delay in getting defence land. The civic body expects to compete widening of the Kalewadi phata-Dehu Alandi road and Wakad-Nashik phata by March 2012.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-04/pune/30112523_1_brts-buses-pune-mumbai-highway-aundh-ravet-road

TATA bus for BRTS pune

this buses are being used on regular routes.... shows the inefficient, pathetic and highly indiscipline nature of PMPML

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5264/5768776432_94819a17ca_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yatinlad/5768776432/

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5273/5873200142_a6b4e11398_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52266061@N08/5873200142/)
pune cng city bus (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52266061@N08/5873200142/) by mahesh3182 (http://www.flickr.com/people/52266061@N08/), on Flickr

Two flyovers to come up at Kalewadi Phata in Pune

To reduce traffic congestion on the Aundh-Ravet BRTS route, the Pimpri-Chinchwad New Town Development Authority (PCNTDA) will construct two flyovers at Kalewadi Phata.

The proposal to allot the contract for the construction of these two flyovers was approved at the monthly meeting of PCNTDA on Tuesday. It was attended by PCNTDA president Dilip Band, chief executive officer Yogesh Mhase and other civic officials.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs18.92 crore. The total width of the two flyovers, to be constructed parallel to each other, will be 730 metres.

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has proposed bus rapid transit system (BRTS) routes on the Aundh-Ravet route, which is the second BRTS route being developed by the civic body.

The 14.5-km stretch of the road from the Rajiv Gandhi Bridge over the Mula river to Ravet will be widened to 45 metres.

The civic body has also taken up the work of constructing the fourth BRTS route from Kalewadi Phata to Dehu-Alandi Road. This route is being developed in five phases, and work on four stretches has just begun.

Bids are being invited for the fifth portion. The flyover at Empire Estate is being constructed as part of the work and will be completed by October 2013, added the civic officials.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_two-flyovers-to-come-up-at-kalewadi-phata-in-pune_1582504

I am dreading the day it will be implemented all over the city. traffic jams all over. BRTS is unsuitable for indian cities because of mixed traffic and because there are traffic signals every 200m on major roads. There is no point in having dedicated lanes for buses to speed to the next traffic signal.

^^
The Ahmedabad BRTS is working great and so is the Delhi one now.

Mixed traffic and frequent signals do not mean that we cannot run BRTS but it just means we need to deal with these problems and come up with solutions. Good Public transport is the only way to deal with road congestion and BRTS is a cheap and efficient solution !!

+1
BRTS is a good solution.

^^
The Ahmedabad BRTS is working great and so is the Delhi one now.

Mixed traffic and frequent signals do not mean that we cannot run BRTS but it just means we need to deal with these problems and come up with solutions. Good Public transport is the only way to deal with road congestion and BRTS is a cheap and efficient solution !!

I'm against buses having dedicated lanes. Pune's roads are narrow and congested. There are hundreds of small lanes intersecting the main roads. To have a dedicated lane is useless. Ahmedabad situation is different. The portion where it is implemented cannot be compared to Pune. Dedicated lanes should be restricted to very few roads where there are few traffic signals. I know what I am talking about. There is no point in having dedicated lanes on portions where there are traffic signals every 200m. It's useless. The bus travel time is not reduced much and you have the ridiculous thing of narrowing the roads. Pune already has a BRTS and we already know how ineffective it is. No use in blind lip service for BRTS. I drive everyday here. Increase the number of buses, but for heavens sake don't have dedicated bus lanes, except on very few roads. Have you seen the traffic in Pune. :bash:

Work is going on very slow on "Aundh-Dange Chowk-Ravet" carridore. It is due to some of its portion is under defence. Once that strech is operatinals, let us see how much releif will be there on this route.

PCMC begins work on Aundh-Ravet BRTS

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has finally begun work on the Aundh-Ravet bus rapid transit system (BRTS) route.

The defence ministry last Thursday formally handed over the land required for the project to the civic body. The project has been delayed by about two years following problems faced by the PCMC in acquiring land from the defence ministry for the stretch between Aundh and Jagtap Dairy.

The civic body had paid Rs18.23 crore to the ministry, which had demanded Rs158 crore for land for all the BRTS routes.

Confirming the development, PCMC commissioner Ashish Sharma said the civic body would try to expedite work. The Aundh-Ravet BRTS will be the prime route for commuters travelling from Pune to the information technology (IT) park in
Hinjewadi.

Completion of the project is expected to end traffic snarls at Sangvi Phata, Aundh Civil Hospital, Jagtap Dairy, Kalewadi Phata, Dange Chowk, Punavale and Ravet.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_pcmc-begins-work-on-aundh-ravet-brts_1586579

PCMC to construct split flyover at Dange chowk

PUNE: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation will construct a split flyover at Dange chowk in Thergaon to reduce the traffic congestion at this busy junction.

A proposal will come up at the standing committee meeting on Tuesday for allotment of contract to construct the flyover at a cost of Rs 21.5 crore. The estimated cost of the project was Rs 16.87 crore.

Dange chowk is an important junction on Aundh- Ravet Road, which the civic body is developing as a bus rapid transit system (BRTS) route. The road is 14.5 km long and goes from Rajiv Gandhi bridge near Aundh/Sangvi to Ravet. The civic body is widening this road to 45 metre.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-19/pune/30174936_1_split-flyover-aundh-ravet-road-aundh-ravet-road

Pimpri-Chinchwad needs 300 more bus shelters

Source (http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_pimpri-chinchwad-needs-300-more-bus-shelters_1589804)
According to a recent Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) survey, owing to rising population, the city of Pimpri-Chinchwad requires over 300 additional bus shelters for the convenience of commuters.

The transport utility officials said that there are 120 bus shelters in the city to cater to the needs of about 18 lakh population and 38 more would be constructed along the bus rapid transit system (BRTS) route in the city.

The survey found several shelters in a deplorable state.

Areas like Morwadi, Chinchwad and Pimpri along the Mumbai-Pune highway and the internal roads of the city where the PMPML buses ply do not have bus shelters.

Officials said that a proposal has been sent to the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to help the transport utility in infrastructure development.

“Unless the PCMC provide land for the project, we would not be able to set up the bus shelters,” they said.

The transport utility’s public relation officer, Deepaksinh Pardeshi, told DNA, “Things are in a nascent stage and would take time for fructification.”

PMPML officials said that it wants to establish bus shelters on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis. According to the civic officials, each bus stop will cost around Rs22 lakh. A private firm will construct the shelters and get the advertising rights. The about 50 meters long and three meters wide shelters will be made of stainless steel.

As the model code of conduct is in place due to the by-election for the Khadakwasla assembly, the project planning, including floating of tenders, would be done after the polls.

Commuters wait for bus shelters in Pimpri Chinchwad areas

PUNE: Commuters' woes seem unending in the absence of bus shelters at most places in the Pimpri-Chinchwad township. At some places the election code of conduct is a hurdle while at others shelters will be erected but only the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) knows when. For records, civic officials claim about 16 shelters will be made by December end.

The PCMC had removed all bus shelters to facilitate widening of roads for BRTS on four main stretches - Pune-Mumbai highway, Aundh-Ravet road, Wakad-Nashik Phata road and Kalewadi Phata-Dehu Alandi road. At the same time, several other bus stops were wanting for shelters.

Four years back, the PCMC had taken a decision to erect bus shelters on its own. It invited bids twice for a public private partnership (PPP) model. "The PCMC had invited bids for 60 places, but since we did not get any response, the PMPML was told 10 months back to erect the bus shelters on its own," said Dilip Kudale, co-ordinator of the engineering department.

However, the PCMC will construct 16 shelters on a BOT basis on the BRTS route on the Pune-Mumbai highway. The work is expected to be completed by December end. The PCMC plans to erect around 55 to 60 bus shelters along the three other BRT routes, namely Aundh-Ravet road, Wakad-Nashik Phata road and Kalewadi phata-Dehu Alandi road, Kudale said.

Satish Kulkarni, joint MD of the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) said, "The PMPML has already given a contract to put up the bus shelters on a BOT basis. The contractor has to construct the shelters as per our design. In return, he gets the permission to display advertisements on them for seven years. Bids will be invited after the election code of conduct for the Khadakwasla assembly constituency expires."

PRO Deepak Pardeshi said, "The PMPML has found that a total of 200 bus shelters have to be constructed in Pimpri Chinchwad on non-BRT routes. We have so far put up shelters at 25 spots. The contract for the remaining is expected to be given in January."

Ratna Rane, a resident of Chinchwad said, "PCMC had removed the bus shelters for widening of Pune-Mumbai highway but has still not erected bus shelters even after completion of the widening work. As a result the commuters have to brave the heat and rain while waiting for the buses. PCMC should take steps to reinstall the bus shelters along the highway for the benefit of lakhs of commuters."

Nitin Jadhav, a senior citizen from Pimpri said, "Senior citizens like me are the most inconvenienced due to the absence of bus shelters at majority of bus stops in Pimpri Chinchwad township. I need to carry an umbrella always with me now as it protects me from both rain and heat while standing at the bus stops."

Manav Kamble, president of the Nagari Hakka Suraksha Samiti said, "It is the statutory right of every bus passenger to have access to facilities like bus stops and shelters. But he is being deprived of this right due to the negligence of the civic authorities. Both the PMPML and the PCMC are bypassing their responsibilities. There is no good public transport in Pimpri Chinchwad township and also the number of buses is grossly insufficient. The people have no other choice, so they do not complain."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Commuters-wait-for-bus-shelters-in-Pimpri-Chinchwad-areas/articleshow/10371025.cms

BRTS short of Centre's definition, says civic chief

The civic administration has admitted that the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in the city is not a complete one as defined by the Centre.

Municipal commissioner Mahesh Pathak, replying to the debate on utilization of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) funds in the general body on Monday, said, " Currently, we are operating buses with a door on the left. As per the observations of the central government officials, this left-side door bus operation is a compromise with the actual BRT system."

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-25/pune/30319556_1_facilities-and-frequency-brts-doors-on-both-sides

PCMC gets 84 cr under JNNURM

The Union government has cleared Rs 84 crore, under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, for development works in Pimpri Chinchwad.

Pimpri Chinchwad municipal commissioner Ashish Sharma said, "The Central government has approved the fourth installment of Rs 63 crore for water supply projects under the scheme. Another Rs 21.06 crore, which had been pending for some time, too, was cleared. The approvals came during a meeting of the Central sanctioning and monitoring committee, which was held in New Delhi on Tuesday."

Sharma said, The Centre had held back the amount of Rs 21.06 crore, which was 10% of the funds released earlier, due to some confusion over completion of reforms. "We had already completed the reforms. The amount was released after the government officials were informed about the same," he added.

The amount pertains to three works: Nashik phata-Wakad BRTS (Rs 8.27 crore), water supply phase II (Rs 6.75 crore), and water supply phase III (Rs 6.03 crore).

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-11/pune/30386493_1_water-supply-development-works-jnnurm

Supriya Sule takes up BRTS cause

PUNE: After the failure of the ruling Nationalist Congress Party in the Pune Municipal Corporation to pep up the Bus Rapid Transit System, party MP Supriya Sule has now taken up the issue.

A press statement issued by her office on Thursday states that Sule wants to interact with NGOs, experts and citizens on the BRTS issue and those interested should put in their suggestions on her website supriyassule.com.

Sule is looking into the problems in the BRTS project and overall traffic problem of the city.

Sule's intervention comes at the time when, notwithstanding the political opposition to the BRTS in the city, the central government wants the state and the PMC to complete the project.

Insisting on the completion of the BRTS projects, the central government has said the BRTS can be implemented by the city or state government either with its own funds or with loan from financial institutions.

The PMC administration has announced to complete the BRTS project by March 2012, a deadline set by the central government under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Now, the central government's directions have bolstered the administration's stand.

In Pune, the BRTS pilot was launched on December 3, 2006 by then Union minister for urban development Jaipal Reddy. Ten air-conditioned Volvo buses were flagged off on the 6.5-km Swargate-Katraj stretch. However, days after the inauguration, the project drew flak from experts and citizens because of a series of accidents on the route, some fatal.

The hasty implementation ballooned into an election issue in February 2007 and the ruling Congress Party lost power in the PMC.

However, the ruling NCP, which came to power in 2007, failed to implement the BRTS project and even the pilot route continues to be in shambles.eom/rj


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/10776133.cms

Supriya Sule takes up BRTS cause



http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/10776133.cms

//
Lets hope that will result in some positive outcome.

BRTS for PUne is a bad idea. As long as you have a traffic system that does not give much credence to discipline (Pune traffic discipline is worst in Maharashtra), no matter how much Madam Sule screams for it, it is bound to fail.

Sort out the mess of discipline and then talk of BRTS

^^ +1

Bus stops: Contractors told to follow safety measures

Source: TOI (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-26/pune/30444272_1_bus-shelters-service-road-pune-mumbai-highway)
A day after a fatal car accident near a bus shelter, being constructed along the BRTS route in Pimpri-Chinchwad, the civic authorities said they will ask the contractor to take adequate road safety measures near the sites where such bus shelters are being constructed.

On Thursday, 36-year old Kasim Sayed Patel died on the spot after his car rammed an under-construction bus stop on the service road of the Pune-Mumbai highway at Vallabhnagar in Pimpri around 12.30 am. The car hit the iron girders that were placed on the road which covered half of the service road. The car climbed over the girders. Sayed suffered severe injuries and was rushed to the PCMC-run Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial hospital where he was proclaimed dead on arrival.

The PCMC is constructing a number of bus shelters located on the right side of the service road as part of the BRTS project. The construction material such as steel rods, iron girders at the sites near Vallabhnagar bus stop, Kharalwadi and Chinchwad have been kept near the shelters. Some of the materials are kept on the roads where barricades have been put up.

Dilip Kudale, coordinator, engineering department, PCMC, said, "The corporation has appointed a private contractor for erecting the bus shelters for the BRT buses on the Pune-Mumbai highway. The traffic police and the civic traffic department officials have informed of the measures that were to be taken for safety of the motorists while erecting the bus shelters."

"The PCMC had informed the contractor to erect one notice board around 50 metre before the site of the bus shelter and another near the site to warn motorists that the work is in progress. He had also been directed to take other measures like erecting blinkers, tin barricades around the site where the work is in progress, use fluorescent paint to mark the area and others. However, it seems that the contractor had not taken adequate safety measures at the construction site of a bus shelter at Vallbhnagar due to which the accident took place," said Kudale.

The corporation, he said, will send a letter to the contractor to take all safety measures at the construction sites to prevent such accidents . Meanwhile, an official from the contractor's company said that barricades had been erected at the site. The speeding car hit the barricades and went ahead to climb the iron girders.

Supriya Sule takes up BRTS cause

Source: TOI (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-18/pune/30414138_1_brts-project-brts-pilot-pilot-route)
After the failure of the ruling Nationalist Congress Party in the Pune Municipal Corporation to pep up the Bus Rapid Transit System, party MP Supriya Sule has now taken up the issue.

A press statement issued by her office on Thursday states that Sule wants to interact with NGOs, experts and citizens on the BRTS issue and those interested should put in their suggestions on her website supriyassule.com.

Sule is looking into the problems in the BRTS project and overall traffic problem of the city.

Sule's intervention comes at the time when, notwithstanding the political opposition to the BRTS in the city, the central government wants the state and the PMC to complete the project.

Insisting on the completion of the BRTS projects, the central government has said the BRTS can be implemented by the city or state government either with its own funds or with loan from financial institutions.

The PMC administration has announced to complete the BRTS project by March 2012, a deadline set by the central government under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Now, the central government's directions have bolstered the administration's stand.

In Pune, the BRTS pilot was launched on December 3, 2006 by then Union minister for urban development Jaipal Reddy. Ten air-conditioned Volvo buses were flagged off on the 6.5-km Swargate-Katraj stretch. However, days after the inauguration, the project drew flak from experts and citizens because of a series of accidents on the route, some fatal.

The hasty implementation ballooned into an election issue in February 2007 and the ruling Congress Party lost power in the PMC.

However, the ruling NCP, which came to power in 2007, failed to implement the BRTS project and even the pilot route continues to be in shambles.eom/rj

No sign of BRTS pilot project in Pimpri-Chinchwad by December-end

There is no sign of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) starting the pilot project of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) on Pune-Mumbai highway by December-end. Although the civic body had said that the pilot project will start operations by December-end, most of the related works are still incomplete.

read more:- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/No-sign-of-BRTS-pilot-project-in-Pimpri-Chinchwad-by-December-end/articleshow/10976079.cms

Thumbs down from commuters too

Public reactions say it all. Citizens and commuters, appalled at the inadequacy of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), have harped on two main points -city administrators should improve the service, and show the will to implement the BRTS properly as the city needs good public transport.

read more:- http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-03/pune/30471458_1_brts-public-transport-buses

Obviously SUPRIYA SULE does not have to haggle it out like aam janata when her motorcade passes - cos wherever she has to go, she has an escort and roads are cleared way ahead of her entourage.

Has this nut even travelled in PMT recently or plied the roads of PUNE?

Bitch does not even know the ground realities of Pune's highly UNDISCIPLINED traffic and she wants a BRTS !

Some of these politicians should be flogged !!!

Supriya Sule takes up BRTS cause

Source: TOI (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-18/pune/30414138_1_brts-project-brts-pilot-pilot-route)[/QUOTE]

Daily commuters coming to Hinjewadi IT park had demanded to increase bus frequency on the route. Those include
1. Route no 333 'Pune Station-Wakad-Hinjewadi'.
2. Route no 115 'Pune Station-Dange Chowk-Hinjewadi'.
3. Route no 100 'Corporation-Aundh-Hinjewadi'.
4. Route no 372 'Nigdi-Hinjewadi'.

Dehu-Alandi Road to become 6-lane

In a bid to deal with traffic congestion on the temple-town roads of Dehu and Alandi, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has decided to expand the existing two-lane road to six lanes.

Under the project, for which the civic administration has floated a Rs96-crore tender, Dehugaon to Moshi-Jadhavwadi stretch will be widened in the first phase.

In the second phase, Moshi-Jadhavwadi to Alandigaon roads will be widened into six lanes.

PCMC had earlier planned bus rapid transit system (BRTS) on Kalewadi-Dehu-Alandi route under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Speaking to DNA, JNNURM cell coordinator of PCMC, Nilkanth Poman said, “The new plan does not mean that the proposed BRTS routes have been scrapped. The provision for BRTS routes will be made later,” he said.

Poman added that the civic body had already started the work of BRTS routes of Kalewadi Phata-Dehu-Alandi from Kalewadi Phata.

Executive engineer Satish Ingle said the Dehu-Alandi route was of nearly 14.77 km, and the existing width of the road was 9 metres.

After its widening into six lanes, it will become 30 metres.

PCMC is developing four BRTS routes in the municipal limits under JNNURM — Nigdi-Dapodi on the Pune-Mumbai highway, Aundh-Ravet Road, Kalewadi Phata-Dehu-Alandi Road and Wakad-Nashik Phata.

The civic body have not yet received funds for Kalewadi Phata-Dehu-Alandi routes under JNNURM, Poman said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_dehu-alandi-road-to-become-6-lane_1623612

The flyover construction is going on at Empire Estate on old Pune-Mumbai highway. This flyover is part of 'Kalewadi Phata-Dehu Alandi' carridore.

Panel okays cost escalation of Aundh-Ravet BRTS

Source (http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_panel-okays-cost-escalation-of-aundh-ravet-brts_1626113)
The standing committee of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has escalated the cost of the Aundh-Ravet bus rapid transit system (BRTS) project by Rs18 crore for constructing a flyover at Sangvi phata. In the last week, the committee had okayed Rs13 crore escalation for the same project. Hence, the total cost of Aundh-Ravet BRTS project has reached Rs380 crore.

The standing committee members approved the resolution on Tuesday on the basis of a short notice resolution. Though there was no any provision for a flyover at Sangvi phata in the development plan, the standing committee has approved the resolution.

The opposition party corporators claimed that the committee had given its nod for constructing the flyover due to the pressure from the Nationalist Congress Party MLA.

On December 4, the committee made an escalation of Rs13.63 crore in the cost of widening and relaying the Aundh-Ravet Road.
The civic body is widening five of the total seven stretches in phases. Earlier, the civic body could not widen the road in the first two phases as there was a delay in acquiring defence land. Now, the civic body has widened the road near Aundh Hospital, which has reduced traffic congestion on this important road.

The work on widening five sections of the Aundh-Ravet Road from Aundh Hospital to Ravet is 90% complete and is expected to be ready by end of this month. The Aundh-Ravet Road is 14.4 km long.

This road has been divided into seven sections and contracts have been awarded to widen and relay these sections. The widening work began in 2008.

Another 6 months' wait for Nigdi-Dapodi BRTS route

The much-talked about Nigdi-Dapodi Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) route could take another six months before it is thrown open to the public, in spite of the claims of completion by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).

The stumbling block for the route is the issue of transfer of defence land.The PCMC city engineer, NT Kamble, told DNA, “A high-level meeting to resolve the issue was held recently and the matter will be resolved very soon.”

The PCMC has widened a 1-km-long stretch from Phugewadi octroi post to Megamart along the Mumbai-Pune highway in Dapodi after getting in-principal approval from the defence authorities. But the College of Military Engineering (CME) later raised objections and stalled vehicular traffic for half-a-day last year.

The civic body had begun expansion of the 12-km Pune-Mumbai highway stretch from Nigdi to Dapodi from four to eight lanes around 4 years ago.

The expansion of the 10-km stretch to 61 metres from Nigdi to Phugewadi has been completed.

The 2-km stretch in Dapodi has been widened to 45 metres. This stretch cannot be widened to 61 metres, as the civic body has not received possession of the defence land.

The civic officials added that the Nigdi-Dapodi BRTS route will get functional only after issue with defence authorities is resolved. Besides, the work on bus shelters on National Highway 4 was also in progress.

Since the civic administration is developing the BRTS system in city for the first time, they need more time to get familiar the system.

There are two lane service roads on both sides of this concrete portion of the highway. One lane of the service road is for the BRTS buses, while the other lane is for vehicular traffic.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_another-6-months-wait-for-nigdi-dapodi-brts-route_1630201

Beleaguered BRTS may get a new look

Put on the back foot due to a surge of 18 exceptions and observations by the Union urban development ministry, the civic body is now contemplating to prepare a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) for its ambitious-yet-beleaguered Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS).

The Rs1,500-crore project was to be implemented on 35 city roads. It was launched in 2007 on the Katraj-Swargate-Hadapsar route and even that has been under fire from various quarters. With the ministry raising exceptions and observations, the fate of entire project hangs in balance.

SK Lohia, the officer-on-special duty (OSD) from the ministry, had raised the exceptions and observations in a special meeting held in New Delhi last August.

Other than the commissioner of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Mahesh Pathak, senior officers of the civic body, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited, and various stakeholders of the project were present during the meeting.

During the meeting, Lohia observed that nine important routes were left out “inadvertently” by the PMC in the DPR that was submitted to the ministry. That was the reason why the ministry disapproved it. Also, the civic work of BRT was over in six routes in Yerwada and Balewadi. But later, it was proposed that these routes were in low demand and be left out of the BRT corridor.

Moreover, in his report, Lohia referred to these exceptions and observations and recommended that funds allocated to the PMC under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) be now diverted to develop BRT on other nine important routes.

When DNA, which has a copy of the minutes of special meeting held by Lohia, asked additional city engineer, Vivek Kharwadkar, for his comment, he chose to remain silent. Citing the model code of conduct that is in force for the civic polls, he said that it would be inappropriate to discuss the issue now.

The BRT project in Pune has been in the eye of a storm ever since it was launched. The pilot project was executed by the PMC just prior to the PMC elections of 2007. Major General (Rtd) SCN Jatar and other activists have been alleging that the hurry and lack of planning for the implementation of the BRT was due to political pressure by tainted city MP Suresh Kalmadi.

With the civic elections just around the corner, the directive assumes importance as the Opposition parties had blamed the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party for the failure of the BRTS.

Senior officials, while speaking to DNA, stated that acting on the instructions by Lohia, the PMC had asked the consultant to study the suggestions. “The consultant’s report would be ready in 15 days, and then we would take a call on it,” the officers said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_beleaguered-brts-may-get-a-new-look_1644160

PMPML training drivers for BRTS Training for BRT bus drivers begins

The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has started training sessions for its drivers who will be operating buses plying on the proposed BRT route between Nigdi and Dapodi. Bus stations on the BRT route will be located on the right side of the road, and buses which will ply on the route will have doors opening on the right as well as on the left side.

Anant Waghmare, manager, BRT, PMPML said, "The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has started constructing bus stations. Training is being provided for efficient halting of the bus exactly at the station."

He added, "The first phase of training is covering 300 drivers from the three depots in Pimpri-Chinchwad. This will last till February 11. In the next phase, another 700 drivers will be provided training."

Waghmare said in the BRT system in Ahmedabad there are automatic sensors at the bus stations and on the doors of the buses. The doors open only when the sensors match each other. Such sensors are needed even in Pimpri-Chinchwad to avoid accidental opening of the bus shelter doors and that of the buses. Also lane separation is needed on the BRT like that in Ahmedabad, so that other vehicles do not enter the BRT bus lane and cause accident.

"The same buses will proceed to other destinations in Pune and other areas. Passengers will not be inconvenienced with break-journeys," he said.

He said the PCMC has to take the decision as to when to begin the BRT bus services. The construction of the BRT routes in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad city have to be completed by December 2012 under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme as per the Union government directives, he said. The corporation has begun the construction of the bus stations along the BRT route. Senior officials in the engineering department of PCMC could not specify the period in which the BRT bus service will begin on the old Pune-Mumbai highway.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/PMPML-training-drivers-for-BRTS-Training-for-BRT-bus-drivers-begins/articleshow/11733876.cms

On this BRT route bus stop construction is going on at Kasarwadi, Vallabhnagar, Jayashree Theatre(Chinchwad Station), Kalbhornagar, Bajaj Auto(Nigdi). The Bus stop at Kharalwadi(Pimpri) is ready from some months. Able to see the work with good speed although it is behind the scheduled time.

The construction of flyover at Nashik Phata is going on with full swing.
This flyover is part of 'Nashik Phata to Wakad' BRT carridore.

Katraj to Hadapsar via Swargate is like dedicated Bus lane.
Yesterday I travelled by no A/C bus on this route.
My observations:
1. On 'Katraj-Swargate' part of this route there are very low/no private vehicles. Only PMPML and MSRTC buses are using the lanes.
2. On 'Swargate-Hadapsar' route many two and four wheelers are using the BRT lanes and making problems. There was nobody to avoide this.
3. The buses used for this route was of good condition.
4.On return journy I travelled by bus 'Hadapsat to Katraj via Kondhawa'. This bus takes same time as the BRT bus eventhough there is no as such dedicated lane for buses.

The road widening from Wakad to Wakad phata is almost done. Hopefullythe construction for deviders and bus stops will start now.
The road constuction on 'Jagtap Dairy to Pimple Saudagar' is also going on with full speed.
Nasik Phata flyover construction is also in full speed.

Pune: Mumbai might be ahead of Pune in terms of human population, but when it comes to vehicle population, the city easily overtakes the maximum city.

According to data collected by the Pune traffic police, while Mumbai has around 21 lakh vehicles, Pune has reached the 23 lakh mark. And, if the number of vehicles in Pimpri-Chinchwad are added, the number goes over 31 lakh.

Poor public transport system is a major reason due to which people in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are forced to use private vehicles.

It is because of this that the number of private vehicles are increasing and the number of accidents are also on the rise.

Interestingly, Mumbai has a population of around 1.25 crore while, Pune, including Pimpri-Chinchwad, has a population of around 55 lakh.

Deputy commissioner of police (traffic), Vishwas Pandhare, said, “Nearly 775 new vehicles are registered in Pune RTO in a day which adds to the traffic in the city.”

“In Mumbai, nearly 80 per cent of the private vehicles are cars but in Pune, two-wheelers outnumber the four-wheelers and the bikers are the main victims in road accidents. Looking at the fatalities of last year, on an average one person dies in road accident every day in Pune,” Pandhare said.

As far as the public transport system is concerned, the statistics show the difference between the transport system in Pune and Mumbai.

While Mumbai has around 4,680 buses along with a network of local trains spread across the state capital, Pune has only 1,500-1,600 buses for the whole population of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

To add to the commuters’ agony, nearly 300-350 buses of the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) remain off the roads due to bad condition.

Pandhare said, “Strengthening of public transport system in Pune is the need of the hour. However, the present service of the PMPML is not up to the expectations of the public. That’s why they don’t want to travel by buses. Municipal authorities should also work to strengthen the city’s public transport system and introduce metro rail service too.”

http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MAH-PUN-pune-overtakes-maximum-city-in-vehicle-population-3017781.html

Change in Bus Rapid Transit System routes on Satara Road (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-14/pune/31341903_1_pmc-flyover-satara-road)

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will start construction work of a flyover on Pune-Satara road. Hence, all Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) buses would ply on side lanes. Also, the area under construction has been declared as no parking zone and bus stops have been shifted.

In a press statement issued on Friday, the PMC project department has stated that the PMC has planned a flyover on Pune-Satara road from Chavannagar to Bharati Vidyapeeth. The project worth Rs 47.27 crore would be completed within 30 months. The flyover is designed to have approach roads on both sides and four lanes on bridge.

"The construction work will be completed in two phases - Chavannagar to Ahilyadevi chowk and from Ahilyadevi chowk to Bharati Vidyapeeth," states the PMC press statement.

First bus rapid transit system in Pimpri Chinchwad by December
source TOI

All the infrastructure work for operating the bus rapid transit system (BRTS) on an 11-km stretch of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Pimpri-Chinchwad would be completed by the end of this year, municipal commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi said on Friday.

A review meeting of the BRTS projects in Pimpri-Chinchwad was held in New Delhi on Thursday. Earlier, a preparatory meeting was held in Mumbai on Wednesday, Pardeshi added.

The Nigdi-Dapodi stretch is the PCMC's first BRTS project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The civic body has also started work on widening the 13 km Aundh-Ravet Road for implementing the BRTS on that route.

It has been nearly four years since the PCMC completed widening of the highway stretch. But the civic body has not been able to start the BRTS services as it has not been able to complete any infrastructure work related to the BRTS on that stretch.

Construction of bus stations along the service roads has been moving at a slow pace for the last one year. Civic officials claim that work of 12 bus stations would be completed soon. The PCMC wants to construct 38 bus stations on this route.

Meanwhile, the civic body is yet to segregate the BRTS lanes from other lanes. "Segregation of the BRT lanes and other issues related to BRTS operations are to be discussed at a meeting with the Pune municipal commissioner and officials of the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited next week," Pardeshi said.

PMPML's BRTS manager Anant Waghmare said that the traffic engineer of the PCMC has been apprised about the various requirements for safety of passengers. "The BRT lanes have to be properly segregated. Foot overbridges and underpasses should be constructed. Speed breakers, traffic signals and pedestrian crossings are also needed for the safety of passengers and to prevent accidents.''

"The PMPML has trained 1,000 drivers to use the bus shelters on the right-hand side,'' Waghmare said. "Total 250 buses will be needed to run the BRT services on the highway stretch. We have the buses, which are now plying on other routes," he added.

32 km long BRTS with dedicated lanes on Nagar Road, implementation commences



नगर रस्त्यावर बीआरटीसाठी 32 किलोमीटरचा स्वतंत्र मार्ग

पुणे - नगर रस्ता आणि परिसरात पहिल्या टप्प्यात बीआरटीसाठी स्वतंत्र मार्ग (क्*लोज बीआरटी) ठेवण्यात येणार असून, त्यांचे काम अंतिम टप्प्यात आले आहे. त्यामुळे शहरात प्रथमच 32 किलोमीटर लांबीचा बीआरटीच्या बससाठी स्वतंत्र मार्ग राहणार आहे. प्रायोगिक प्रकल्प राबविताना झालेल्या चुका दूर करून या प्रकल्पाचे नियोजन करण्यात आले असल्यामुळे त्याकडे सर्वांचे लक्ष लागून राहिले आहे.

नगर रस्ता, विश्रांतवाडी, टिंगरेनगर, गोल्फ क्*लब रस्ता आणि संगमवाडी या रस्त्यांचा त्यामध्ये समावेश आहे. या परिसरातील रस्ते पुरेसे रुंद असल्यामुळे प्राधान्याने हे रस्ते निवडण्यात आले आहेत. बस वाहतूक जलद गतीने व्हावी, यासाठी मुख्य रस्त्यावरून उपरस्त्यांना जाण्यासाठी रस्तादुभाजकांना देण्यात आलेले ब्रेक बंद करण्याचे काम सुरू आहे. सात ठिकाणी हे काम पूर्ण झाले आहे. उर्वरित ठिकाणाचे काम या आठवड्यात पूर्ण होणार आहे. त्यानंतर बीआरटीसाठीचा स्वतंत्र मार्गाची आखणी करून त्यांची अंमलबजावणी करण्यात येणार आहे.

स्वारगेट ते कात्रज दरम्यान प्रायोगिक तत्त्वावर बीआरटी प्रकल्प राबविल्यानंतर 110 किलोमीटर लांबीच्या मार्गाचे नियोजन महापालिकेकडून करण्यात आले आहे. त्यासाठी निविदा प्रक्रिया पूर्ण करून वर्क ऑर्डरही देण्यात आली आहे; परंतु हे काम गेल्या वर्षभराहून अधिक काळ थांबले आहे. गेल्या महिन्यात या कामाला गती देण्यासाठी पक्षनेत्यांची बैठक झाली होती. त्यामध्ये बंद बीआरटी योजना राबविण्याचा निर्णय घेण्यात आला होता. मोठ्या रस्त्यांवर प्राधान्याने ही कामे हाती घ्यावी, असेही त्यामध्ये ठरले होते. त्यानुसार ही कामे सुरू करण्यात आली आहेत.


source: http://www.esakal.com/esakal/20120605/5433572823570577921.htm


Summary:
The BRTS on Nagar road and surrounding areas will be a closed BRT and the work on it has entered final stages. This will be with separate dedicated lanes.
The roads included are Nagar road, Vishrantwadi, Tingrenagar, Golf club road and Sangamwadi. These roads have been chosen since they are sufficiently wide. In order that the buses run at high speed, the breaks in the road dividers are currently being closed. This has been done at seven locations. Remaining locations will be finished this week. After this, the dedicated lanes for the BRTS will be marked and implemented.

The PMC has planned to implement a 110 km long BRTS. For this, finance has been allocated and work orders have already been issued, but this has been delayed since the past one year. Last month, leaders from all parties met to push work. In this meeting, it was decided to have a 'closed' BRTS and a decision was taken to first implement this on the bigger roads. Work has begun on this basis.

Pune city part of BRTS Plan according to the CMP

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/6296/punebrtscmp.jpg

Citizens thumbs down to BRTS on new routes


Pune: Over 65% people are against the bus rapid transit system (BRTS) project in the city,says a survey conducted by a city-based group of researchers.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is planning to implement BRTS on four more routes after it was first introduced as a pilot project on the Swargate-Hadapsar and Swargate-Katraj routes a few years back.The Mantraa group spoke to 700 people during a 12-day period about the proposed routes in Kothrud,Vishrantwadi,Kharadi and Kalewadi.
The aim was to know peoples views about the BRTS.Most people were skeptical about the project, said Medha Tadpatrikar,one of the researchers,at a press conference on Monday.Tadpatrikar said that people raised questions about the lack of required infrastructure and also doubted the ability of the civic administration in completing the project successfully.
People said that since city roads are very narrow,implementing the BRTS is not a good option, said Shirish Phadtare,another researcher who was a part of the group.
Total 65.39% people gave a no to BRTS on new routes while 21.82% supported the idea and remaining 12.79% people remained neutral.

Reasons cited for rejecting BRTS
1 Narrow roads
2 Lack of study
3 Traffic congestion
4 Inconvenience to pedestrians
5 Civic administration's lack of ability

TOI (http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=7&sectid=edid=&edlabel=TOIPU&mydateHid=12-06-2012&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Pune&edname=&articleid=Ar00701&publabel=TOI)

Civic body plans branding, public outreach campaign

Having faced flak over poor implementation of Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) on the pilot route, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), after setting a target of introducing it on major city roads by the year-end, is set to take up branding and public outreach programme for smooth, effective operation of the public transport service.

In a contract signed with the project consultant, the PMC had made provisions for taking up branding and public outreach programme for the BRTS. “The BRTS will soon be introduced on various city roads and the civic administration has started preparations for the same. Thus, the PMC has urged the consultant to take up branding and public outreach programme of the project as per the contract,” said a civic officer.

He said, “The awareness created by the programme would help in making citizens give up their opposition on implementation of BRTS. There are many misconceptions about the project and citizens have reservations regarding the benefits of BRTS that can only be removed through the public outreach programme.”

As part of the programme, a detailed presentation of executing BRTS on city roads was made for leaders of political parties in the PMC and a similar one to legislators from the city. “There is a need to reach to the common citizens and convince them of the benefits of BRTS and it should be done before the project is executed,” he said.

To start with, the PMC has decided that the BRTS would be introduced on Alandi Road and Nagar Road, which are wide enough for creating dedicated routes. The administration has also started removing the gaps in dividers that were made for each lane connected to the main road. Efforts are also being taken to ensure safe passage for pedestrians who cross the busy roads that will have BRTS.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/civic-body-plans-branding-public-outreach-campaign/968021/

Users just don’t want to ride on BRTS wagon (http://www.dnaindia.com/pune/report_users-just-dont-want-to-ride-on-brts-wagon_1716073)

No news it seems is good news for the much beleaguered Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) of the city. In a survey conducted by city-based Mantraa Research and Consulting Private Limited, 56.18% of 739 people surveyed asked for the BRTS to be scrapped on the existing Katraj-Swargate-Hadapsar route.

Medha Tadpatrikar, managing director of the firm, said the opinion was expressed by people who use buses. “However, when we interacted with two-wheeler and four-wheeler users on the above routes, it turned out that 73.92% and 71.37% of them wanted the system to be scrapped,” she said.

Started in 2007, the pilot BRTS on the 16.5 km Katraj-Swargate-Hadapsar route has been under the cloud from both activists and citizens alike for its shoddy planning and the increase in the number of accidents on the route. The recent survey by Mantraa once again reveals the ills that plague the system.

The survey was conducted along the above route and took into consideration, bus users, two and four-wheelers and pedestrians alike.

The survey showed that around 81.06% of users blamed the BRTS for the resultant overcrowding on the roads. Also, 81.39% of the users singled out the BRTS for the increase in the incidents of errant drivers on the routes.

Tadpatrikar said the survey shows that the Pune Municipal Corporation should undertake a major overhaul of the BRTS to make it people friendly.

that is not true I live along this route. And infact accidents have reduced as the road was reduced from 6 to 4 lanes due to BRTS. All busses including ST buses use BRTS route and makes it safer for 2 wheelers, else there were many accidents involving buses on this route before BRTS. I am all for BRTS.

On the Wakad to Nashik phata BRT carridore, one can see the progress at Wakad area. At Wakad, the construction for BRT lane has been started.

Nov first will be celebrated as bus day in Pune. PMPML will ply total 3000 buses on that day. Currently they have around 1500 buses on different routes. On Nov 1st, PMPML authority will hire buses from private operators, MSRTC. There will be additional buses on routes: katraj to Nigdi, Hadapsar to Kothrud, Wagholi to Pune Station, Hinjewadi to Corporation, Dhayri to Swargate, Balewadi to Shivajinagar.

http://pbd.sakaaltimes.com/route_search/images/bus_day.jpg

For those who want to travel by bus on that day, here's the info (Sorry for the sizes, am too lazy to bring them up to a proper size, please excuse, thank you):

Route search:
www.punebusguide.org
http://pbd.sakaaltimes.com/route_search/

http://pbd.sakaaltimes.com/sites/default/files/photos/Route-map-for-PBD-final-for.jpg

There will be extra buses for Hinjewadi on regular routes like Nigdi-Hinjewadi, Pune Station-Hinjewadi, Bhosari-Hinjewadi. Apart from that extra buses will run form Hadapsar (Coving swargate), Deccan (Covering Kothrud Depo), Sangvi (Covering Pimple Saudagar) for HInjewadi. Hope that less number of private vehicles in Hinjewadi on 1st Nov.

^^ Nice Map there from Sakal Times.

The construction of flyover at Nashik Phata is going on with full swing.
This flyover is part of 'Nashik Phata to Wakad' BRT carridore.

Double decker bridge from Nashik Phata

5E0O7DN77hc

BRTS planned at Ravet Pune

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BRTS marked in centre of road towards Ravet

http://s20.postimage.org/6qzrvgjyl/DSC_0028.jpg

Though the entire road from Nashik Phata to Wakad is not ready following are the updates for the same:
1. The BRT lane separation work is been started at Wakad to Mankar Chowk stretch.
2. The bridge construction at Nashik Phata has been speeded up.
3. The road in Pimple Saudagar area is ready, but so far marking for BRT is not been done.
4. The Jagtap Diary to Manakar Chowk road is not yet ready, as some houses demolition is not yet done.
5. The Nashik Phata to Pimple Saudagar road is not ready. It might be pending due to permission pending from defense as there is some defense land in between.

1. Bridge construction at Empire estate is looking slow compared to Nashik Phata flyover progress.
2. The BRT lane separation at Shahunagar/RTO is started.
3. The road from KSB chowk to Empire estate is not yet ready.
4. The BRT lane separation from Kalewadi Phata to MM high school in Kalewadi is stated.
5. The road from MM high school to the Kalewadi end of the ROB is not yet ready.

Unfortunately the speed of work on this route is very slow. On the other hand the bridge construction at Kalewadi Phata and Dange chowk is going on with very good speed. But both of these flyovers are not part of the BRT corridor.

Though the entire road from Nashik Phata to Wakad is not ready following are the updates for the same:
1. The BRT lane separation work is been started at Wakad to Mankar Chowk stretch.
2. The bridge construction at Nashik Phata has been speeded up.
3. The road in Pimple Saudagar area is ready, but so far marking for BRT is not been done.
4. The Jagtap Diary to Manakar Chowk road is not yet ready, as some houses demolition is not yet done.
5. The Nashik Phata to Pimple Saudagar road is not ready. It might be pending due to permission pending from defense as there is some defense land in between.

As per latest updates, some houses at Jawalkar Nagar, Pimple Gurav have been demolished yesterday. Due to this wide road will be possible in that area.

पुणे - शहर व पिंपरी-चिंचवडमधील किमान शंभर बसथांब्यांवर "बस बे' आखण्यात यावेत, अशी मागणी पीएमपी प्रवासी मंचने पीएमपीएल प्रशासनाकडे बुधवारी केली.

प्रशासनाने कर्वे रस्त्यावर, फर्ग्युसन, जंगली महाराज व टिळक रस्त्यावर बसथांब्यांसमोर सध्या "बेस बे' उभारले आहेत. चालकांनी त्यातच बस उभ्या कराव्यात, असा आदेश प्रशासनाने दिला आहे. मात्र, कर्वे रस्त्यावरच सध्या वाहतूक सुरक्षा पंधरवड्यानिमित्त अंमलबजावणी होत आहे. शहरात सुमारे पाच हजार बसथांबे आहेत. त्यातील किमान शंभर थांब्यांवर तरी "बस बे'ची आखणी करावी, अशी मागणी प्रवासी मंचचे जुगल राठी यांनी केली आहे.

फर्ग्युसन रस्त्यावर रानडे इन्स्टिट्यूटलगतच्या बसथांब्यांवर आदर्श "बस बे' उभारण्यात आला आहे. त्या धर्तीवर शहरात किमान शंभर ठिकाणी "बस बे' उभारावेत, अशी मागणी राठी यांनी केली आहे.

"बस बे'मधील बेशिस्त वाहने, बेबाहेर उभी राहणारी बस याबाबतची छायाचित्रे प्रवाशांनी पीएमपीएल प्रशासनाला दिल्यास त्यांना रोख बक्षीस देण्याऐवजी प्रवासात सवलत द्यावी, अशी मागणीही त्यांनी केली. लोकसहभागातून ही योजना यशस्वी ठरू शकेल, असेही मत त्यांनी व्यक्त केले.
Summary:
PMPML pravasi manch an NGO has demanded for Bus bays at 100 impoartant bus stops in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad area. At some bus stops PMPML has already created marking for bus at the stop. Due to this commuters will get the benifit.

From 6th Feb PMPML has started bus for every 15 minutes on ‘katraj to Nigdi via Bypass’ route. Previously there was a bus for every one hour on this route. But considering the demand from commuters, PMPML authority has taken this decision. Due to this one who wants to travel from Katraj to Nidge or vice versa will have a better option. Right now for ‘Katraj to Nigdi’ travel there is route number 42 buses are available but those travel through Swargate, Dandekar Bridge, Shivajinagar, Khadki Station(all these areas are having heavy traffic load every day).
The route of the 43 number bus is as following: Katraj-Vadgaon Budruk(Connecting Sinhgad Road)-Warje(Connecting Malwadi and Karvenagar)-Chandni Chowk(Connecting Kothrud Depo)-Balewadi Stadiume-Hinjewadi Flyover-Kalakhadak-Dange chowk-Chapekar Chowk Chinchwadgaon-Chinchwad Station-Nigdi. People staying at Sinhgad road, Warje, Bavdhan,Bhusari Colony,Balewadi will get benefit due to this increased frequency.
There is also demand for ‘Katraj to Hinjewadi via Bypass’ bus service. Let us see when PMPML authority will start service on that route.

From 1st November, PMPML has started service on route no. 321 i.e. Sangvi to Hinjewadi phase II. This bus goes via Katepuram, Pimple Gurav, Govind Garden, Pimple Saudagar, Kalewadi Phata, Mankar Chowk, Wakad. This bus is coving some of the part of 'Nashik Phata to Wakad' BRT route. So far the BRT tracks are not ready fully, this bus is running on normal road. This service is getting good response from commuters. In morning PMPML is able to ply buses with good frequency.

I personally believe that dedicated lanes for buses is a disaster in the making on most roads. We have all seen how it's been implemented.
Those who want to see the actual plan (and that includes dedicated lanes all over the city except Peth areas)....you can see what might happen.
I have a feeling whoever designed it, never actually experienced daily traffic on the roads, but just theoretically applied his mind to the design:

Here's the plan:
http://punecorporation.org/pmcwebn/informpdf/BRTS/System_Spec_Report.pdf

The problem with these plans is that they deliberately ignore the cons and ignore the other traffic on the roads. If this is implemented we might soon see heavy opposition. At least don't keep the lanes dedicated during morning and evening rush hours.
Luckily the metro offers a hope.

PUneites are known to be one of the most socially advanced people in the whole of India. Yet ... All forward thinking stands still when it comes to road discipline. BRTS is a bad idea in a city that has scant regard for traffic / road courtesy