Several crores are spent in Pune for BRT project however it is interesting to see the current status of BRT – Bus Rapid Transit System offered to Puneties. The BRT runs on Swargate to Katraj Route and and also on Swargate to Hadapsar route. The basic requirements of a BRTS is lacking in the pilot project. There should be at least 90 per cent continuous bus lane, which is non-existent. The buses should be able to move fast, which is not happening. The system does not provide for same level boarding (same levels of floors of the bus and the bus stand platform), has failed to build a strong brand image (to attract passengers) or ban parking along the BRT routes, measures which form the integral part of a BRT system. On any given day, local bus passengers can be seen standing on the roads and waiting for their buses to arrive. The bus stops lack boards displaying information about bus routes and final destinations. As a result passengers can be seen running helter-skelter just to find out about buses they can take to their destinations. Amid the walking, running and crossing the road, is the continuous heavy traffic flow especially on the Swargate-Katraj stretch. Also, since the platforms of the BRTS bus stops are considerably higher, many people avoid standing on the platform, joining the thousands spilling out onto the roads. Many bus stops lack seating arrangements. There are boards that clearly say the BRT track should not be used by any other vehicles. But looks like people are simply ignoring these sign boards. Another problem noticed at the junction is that there are no pedestrian facilities to reach the bus stops. Such facilities are needed because many people walk along the road to reach the MSRTC bus terminus or auto rickshaws. Incidentally, Pune was the first city in the country to try the BRT system, but the project wasted money which if utilized properly could have changed the face of Pune city and the way people transit from one place to another using public transport.
