Will make BRTS work, says Sidhu
REVISED FORMAT Govt will spend ₹ 200 crore more on the project, says state finance minister Manpreet Badal
AMRITSAR: The state government has decided to continue with the ₹600-crore Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) Project but in a new format.
The project was reviewed as it failed to attract many passengers and lacked proper execution.
After holding a review meeting here at the municipal corporation office, state local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and finance minister Manpreet Badal announced that the project will continue but with certain changes to make it an integrated transport system. During the press conference Navjot Singh Sidhu said, “The BRTS was an ill conceived project of the previous government.”
“The Shiromani Akali DalBharatiya Janta Party (SADBJP) government’s biggest mistake was inauguration of the project even before its completion. They just wanted to target the vote bank,” said Sidhu.
He added that now they have left the white elephant for us.
“We will not scrap this project and make it work,” he said.
He said, “The first target is to complete the infrastructure of places like Bhandari Bridge flyover, Verka Bridge and then improve connectivity to few stations. Thereafter the project will be integrated with the city buses (60) which are lying defunct.” “We will add new routes and specific buses like green, blue or red line. We will utilise the existing bus stand for this transport system,” he said.
“This entire thing will take six months time and the administration will regularly monitor the project,” he said. Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla also announced ₹50 lakhs from his MPLAD fund for fresh plantation as a lot of trees were cut for the project.
Under the new system, an under pass and a stretch will be built near Gurudwara Shaheedan Sahib and from Hall Gate to Khazana Gate respectively. Sidhu said that the government was committed to start the solid waste management plants soon, land for which is being narrowed down.
“We plan to acquire large chunk of lands for the project to ensure there are no problems in future. Also the focus will be on framing new advertising policy for Punjab.We are targeting around ₹ 200 crores from the new policy,” he added.
‘FINANCIAL AUDIT OF PROJECTS IS ON’
Finance minister Manpreet Badal said that the audit of SADBJP’ s last three-year projects is being done. All projects above ₹10 crore are being reviewed.” If any financial irregularity is found, those on the wrong side will face music ,” said Badal.
“We will spend ₹ 200 crore to make the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) a feasible project,” he said.
The Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) was launched by former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal in December 2016. Though, originally 93 buses were to run but only 15 buses hit the road.
The former SADBJP government’s biggest mistake was inauguration of the project even before its completion. They just wanted to target the vote bank. They have left the white elephant for us. NAVJOT SINGH SIDHU , local bodies minister