Ahmedabad | BRTS (Janmarg)

[GJ10]

But some positive updates, also

Naroda-Narol-Danilimda, Kankaria-Maninagar BRTS by middle of the year

A 13.50-km long new Bus Rapid Transit Service(BRTS) route from Narol to Naroda in Ahmedabad would be completed by middle of this year according to sources. Ongoing construction work of five over bridges on this route is expected to complete before that.Service on another BRTS route from Kankaria-Maninagar and Danilimda-Narol would also be operational before that.

It should be mentioned that under the first phase of BRTS project, 58-km routes passing through RTO-Chandra Nagar-Kankaria-Maninagar, Danilimda-Narol, Naroda-Narol, Vadaj-Delhi Darwaja, Kalupur-Saraspur, Amdupura-Naroda Patiya, Shahalam-Sarangpur, Sarangpur-Gomtipur and Rakhiyal-Soni ni chali would be covered.

[GJ10]

Now, fly by BRTS from Guj College to Ashram Road

In its drive to strengthen the road infrastructure, ease traffic and link up major routes in the city, the Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited (AJL) has come up with yet another plan. It proposes to build ‘elevated corridor’ from near the Gujarat College to Ashram Road which will be used exclusively by BRTS buses.

This would come as good news for people using the BRTS on this route as the elevated corridor will allow the buses to ‘fly over’ traffic snarls. Moreover, they will no longer have to stand in long queues near the Gandhigram railway track.

AJL officials said they are planning to build a 7.5-metre-wide elevated corridor from near the Gujarat College crossroads till the beginning of Ellisbridge.

This apart, the AJL also plans to build two flyovers, each 5.5-metre wide and running on either side of the main BRTS corridor. These will be accessible to all other vehicles and will help ease traffic on the stretch of road between Gujarat College and Ashram Road (till near Nehru bridge).

Municipal Commissioner IP Gautam said the elevated corridor is being developed to ease traffic congestion on Ashram Road. He also said that the proposal for the flyovers is still in the design stage and that tenders inviting bids for its construction will be floated soon.

“The main objective is to ensure that vehicles other than the BRTS can easily fly over the Gandhigram railway track,” said a senior AJL official.

“We therefore decided to construct a 5.5 metre arm (flyover) that will direct the flow of traffic from Law Garden to a lane next to Gandhigram railway track. It will also provide direct connectivity to Ashram Road which is near the Nehru bridge. Similarly, the other arm will be built near MJ Library on Ashram Road and will lead the traffic towards the Gujarat College,” he added.The AJL official said the idea is to reduce vehicular movement at the Ellisbridge junction, which is considered the busiest traffic junction in the city.

The AJL, however, is still working on how to offer direct connectivity from Gujarat College to Ashram Road near Ellisbridge.

[The Patel]

KING OF THE ROAD

BRTS has put Ahmedabad at par with cities like Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Bogota, Santiago, Lima, Beijing, Taipei and Hanoi, where buses are a hit with the masses



Kumar Manish | TNN
It was said about this city's bus service that people set their watches according to the Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service's (AMTS) big red bus. But that was decades ago. The city grew to have the largest density of twowheelers in the country in year 2006 and brought with it the problems of congestion and pollution.

Over the last few days there has been a revolution – the red bus has gone green, and how.

Within five months, the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), popularly called Janmarg, has created space in the city's travel system and people's hearts. The 18.7-kilometre long BRTS corridor starting from RTO, a transport hub in western side of city to Kankaria Lakefront, a major entertainment zone in heart of the city has entered the world's imagination as a sustainable mode of transport.

The metallic silver coloured BRTS promises high quality public transport system that offers fast, comfortable and low cost urban mobility.

Conceptualised four years back by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) in association with CEPT University, Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited (AJL) was formed as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to govern the BRTS operations in city. It was taken up as a project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) by the ministry of urban development at the centre. The project has major financial support from the Centre which has given about 35 per cent of the funding and the rest is shared by the Gujarat government and the AMC.

Last month, the BRTS won the ‘Best Sustainable Transport System in the world' at the 2010 Sustainable Transport Award in Washington, a first for a south Asian country. The Centre too recognised it as best among mass rapid transit (MRT) system in the country. Enrique Penalosa, president of Institute of Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) and former Bogota mayor, visited the city last year to get a feel of the BRTS, which also drew from the Bogota model of mass transport. Right from the concept to the unique marketing strategy of free rides in the first three months, the BRTS has been different. Ahmedabad has now joined Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Bogota, Santiago, Lima, Beijing, Taipei and Hanoi, where BRTS buses have been running and proved a hit with the masses.

Ahmedabad municipal commissioner, IP Gautam said, "Janmarg provides world class service, matching up with any BRTS service running in all major world cities. The Janmarg has bridged the gap between eastern and western parts of the city."

Stressing on sustainability, Gautam added, "BRTS has also ensured clean environment and is already attracting attention from across the globe. BRTS is still evolving and newer features will be added to popularise the service."

Recently on a visit to Ahmedabad, Sunita Narain, member of the Supreme Courtappointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) panel, took a ride on a BRTS bus and was impressed. She said, "Janmarg is a vision for the future of all Indian cities,".

The Ahmedabad service is modelled on Rede Integrada de Transporte, the world's first bus rapid transit system, started in 1974 in the industrial city of Curitiba in Brazil. AJL too has an integrated policy for pedestrians, dedicated cyclefriendly tracks and affordable mass transit system.

Much needs to be done, however, for the cycle track, which is not contiguous and is heavily encroached. This track is an integral part of the BRTS system, meant to service the eight lakh odd cycle users in the city.

[vinblr]

Congrats Narendra Modi-ji and Gujaratis for winning the prize as well as voting BJP led Modi-ji to power.....

Originally Posted by GJ10

Ahmedabads BRTS wins Sustainable Transport Award in Washington DC



The other BRTS systems nominated were from Johannesburg (South Africa), Curitiba (Brazil), Cali (Colombia) and Guadalajara (Mexico)

Lets hope that the Ahmedabad Janmarg continues to improve and provide a more extensive service to the city, whilst at the very least maintaining current standards throughout.

[GJ10]

Buses on Extended BRTS routes to start by April 21

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will start bus service on the extended route — Danilimda to Narol and from Kankaria to Maninagar — around April 21. Earlier, the civic body had planned to launch the project by March-end, but it was delayed as construction on certain portions was not complete.

The route from Danilimda char Rasta to Narol is almost ready, said Deputy Municipal Commissioner R R Varsani.

He added that the Kankaria to Maninagar route had some bottlenecks but they would be resolved by the time of inauguration.

“Here, the BRT bus station opposite the railway station is going to take some more time beyond April, but we will manage things by the time the project is launched,” Varsani said.

All eyes are set on the Maninagar segment because it would mean a dramatic turnaround in BRTS fortunes, as train passengers coming from Vadodara will find it easier to board a BRT bus to reach the western parts of the city.

Prof H M Shivanand Swamy of CEPT University, who heads the BRT research team, is hopeful that the Maninagar and Narol Circle point will be ready within three weeks.

“At the launch time, when the bus route will connect to Maninagar, the passenger flow will rise by 12,000 to reach 50,000 per day,” he said.

For Maninagar, he said, a temporary bus shelter is being built to meet the deadline; a full-fledged bus station would take shape a little later.

Doors are being fitted at bus shelters on the soon-to-be-ready route between Narol and Maninagar.

Cool New BRTS

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has planned a summer surprise for BRTS users: air-conditioned buses will start operating on the 17-km corridor of the speedy service from Kankaria to RTO within two months.

The civic body is expected to get delivery of 80 new BRTS buses next month. Of these, 20 will be AC buses, which will begin their daily run from May. “We are trying to get the new buses by April-end,” Deputy Municipal Commissioner R R Varsani told Mirror. “With the mercury rising, AC buses will offer respite to BRTS passengers.”

Varsani said that the new buses would fulfil Euro III emission standards. “The buses would have arrived earlier, but the company manufacturing them could not meet the deadline because of busy order schedule,” he said. The money for purchasing the 80 buses will be provided by Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNRUM). Each air-conditioned bus will cost Rs 30.95 lakh.

A source in the civic body said that AC buses would have higher fares than regular ones. “Fares have not been finalised yet. However, they will be slightly more than those of existing buses,” the source said. Currently, 23 buses ply on the BRTS corridor from RTO to Kankaria.

Work on RTO-Chandkheda BRTS stretch to begin next week (ie: Early April 2010)

Roads leading from RTO to Chandkheda are going to shrink as the Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited's (AJL) work on segregating BRTS corridor begins next week.

While the work will help speed up the efforts to bring the premier transport system to this part of the city, citizens are also worried about the digging work adding to the traffic woes.

And, if AJL officials are to be believed the work on the stretch is likely to end by mid 2011 only. This means Amdavadis will have to life with reduced road space on the stretch for more than a year.

"The road width for the RTO- Chandkheda stretch will be 60 metre except for half a kilometer on the route where it will be around 40 metre. We will make all efforts to ensure that residents do not have to suffer because of the work," said an official. Once the stretch is completed, it will improve the connectivity from Chandkheda and residents there will be able to board the BRTS to reach Ellisbridge and Maninagar railway station.

The RTO-Chandkheda stretch is part of phase II of the BRTS plan. The phase II plan also includes stretches from Shivranjani to Bopal and AEC to Sola.

Residents, meanwhile, said they are willing to put up with the inconvenience if it brings the transport service closer to their homes.

"It is a much-awaited project and if it is to reach us we don't mind tolerating dug-up roads for some time. Moreover, once the BRTS is here all our public transport woes would come to an end," said a resident of Chandkheda, Bhavna Parmar

Meanwhile...

AMC raps Civic Projects Contractors for Delay in Work

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is taking erring contractors to task for delay in the civic projects. Putting an onus on the civic project contractors, the civic body has also proposed for monetary penalty for them.

This was discussed during the standing committee meeting of AMC on Wednesday. Also, the civic body fined Rs 40 lakh to contractor of BRTS project on Wednesday for delaying the work.

Standing committee, chairman, Asit Vora said, "The contractor has to pay the fine and also the civic body will now be releasing 20 per cent of their performance guarantee money in four years."

On the contractors delaying the project on flimsy grounds, Vora said, "We are proposing for a ten per cent cut in the remaining project cost after it crosses the stipulated deadline of completion of the civic project."

It will be applicable for contractors under JNNURM and other routine civic projects.

[SBC-YPR]

[skganji]

Forget 2002 riots . Modiji is the best CM in the country.
Sincere thanks from my heart to all the people of Gujarat who elected Modiji and BJP and gave him a chance to see such an excellent all round development of Gujarat. It is not exaggeration , but realistic to say that Gujarat is the only developed state in India. It is just like any other developed nation in the western world.

[viedumonde]

What country in the WEST are you talking about?? Azerbaijan or Columbia??

If its a general term about developed countries, then we cannot compare them with Gujarat.

I can understand your pride, but lets face the hard facts.
To put it in layman terms,
1) Everyone has a house (a fully equipped 2 bedroom one) in the 'developed' and 'western' countries.
2) there is atleast a car per family
3) everybody gets food 3 times a day.
4) everyone can read and write

I didnt want to go into figures as it would be too much truth to handle.

There is no doubt that we are in a better position now than what we were 10 years ago, and still progressing much faster than the other states. And there is no reason to be overwhelmed, this is just the beginning. We have a lot of work to do to be at par with the West.

And at the end of the day we are one country. It only makes sense if we develop together, and not state by state.

[bharatiya]

Originally Posted by viedumonde

I can understand your pride, but lets face the hard facts.
To put it in layman terms,
1) Everyone has a house (a fully equipped 2 bedroom one) in the 'developed' and 'western' countries.
2) there is atleast a car per family
3) everybody gets food 3 times a day.
4) everyone can read and write

Hard facts, let's take NYC. It's one of the richest cities in the world, but did you know that 1 in 5 people go hungry every day (missing at least one meal)? And obviously in cities cars are limited to people who can afford them, provided there is a decent public transport system. I see that Gujarat is yet to be a developed state, but I would say it's pretty damn close.

[GJ10]

Found this Photographic Tour of Ahmedabad Janmarg System originally posted on this blog which has larger size photos available and some good analysis of factors that have helped it flourish in Ahmedabad, anyone interested should check it out!

I believe these are the first pics on SSCI of the Kankaria extension of the Janmarg network


cc Prajna Rao

BRT Terminal at Kankaria


Open, Airy Interiors at Kankaria


Memnagar Bus Stop between split flyover


At-Grade Crossing


Off Board Ticketing


Information Boards


Public Space Extensions

[skganji]

Originally Posted by bharatiya

Hard facts, let's take NYC. It's one of the richest cities in the world, but did you know that 1 in 5 people go hungry every day (missing at least one meal)? And obviously in cities cars are limited to people who can afford them, provided there is a decent public transport system. I see that Gujarat is yet to be a developed state, but I would say it's pretty damn close.

No offense to any body. I was referring to the developed countries like European Union and U.S, Candada. Let us take some of the facts in Gujarat.
a) Gujarat now has got excellent water ways which is in par excellence with the california aquaduct.
b) Gujarat now has got excellent Highways which is in par excellence with any other freeways and expressways in the developed countries.
c) In terms of Industries, I don't need to explain the reliance , the tatas , the textiles etc.
We need hard working individuals as C.M's of all the states in India to make it a developed country. However, it will be difficult to expect same kind of growth in all the states. In the U.S, not all the states are same.

[bharatiya]

Quite true, we need more Modis (and Shreedharans) throughout India, and then we can become a developed country. The Manmohans are good, but in terms of infra development, these guys are better.

[IchimaruGin1]

can we keep on track

good pic GJ

[skganji]

Originally Posted by IchimaruGin1

can we keep on track

good pic GJ

Sorry, my mistake, I got excited excited by seeing the BRTS pictures.

[bhargavsura]

Excellent Pictures GJ!!!

[shanware]

ya maan ...beautiful

[kronik]

Originally Posted by viedumonde

What country in the WEST are you talking about?? Azerbaijan or Columbia??

If its a general term about developed countries, then we cannot compare them with Gujarat.

I can understand your pride, but lets face the hard facts.
To put it in layman terms,
1) Everyone has a house (a fully equipped 2 bedroom one) in the 'developed' and 'western' countries.
2) there is atleast a car per family
3) everybody gets food 3 times a day.
4) everyone can read and write

I didnt want to go into figures as it would be too much truth to handle.

There is no doubt that we are in a better position now than what we were 10 years ago, and still progressing much faster than the other states. And there is no reason to be overwhelmed, this is just the beginning. We have a lot of work to do to be at par with the West.

And at the end of the day we are one country. It only makes sense if we develop together, and not state by state.

thats a lot of generalizations. Thats the image the western media has us believe. Things are not as rosy or perfect as "the truth" you are stating here. US/Canada and Western Europe are facing their own problems of immigration and race issues, and whole communities are still marginalized. Crime in many American cities is at such a level that will scare any third world resident. etc etc.

In relative terms, the comparisons between a first world and third world country are meaningless. Gujarat has done very well compared to the rest of the country, and it deserves every accolade.

[shreyas1684]

wat kronik said, is totally right....

[Marathaman]

Originally Posted by kronik

thats a lot of generalizations. Thats the image the western media has us believe.

Western media? Have you seen the western media lately? Their job is to tell the world that the western world is going to come to an end very soon.

If anything, blame your own preconceived notions rather than 'western media'.

[Euromast]

May be that is selling more these days,I watch/read news here daily and I know what kind of news from India make headlines