Residents stage protest against Bus Rapid Transit System in Dharwad
Alleging that the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), introduced with the promise of ensuring faster and smoother travel, has instead become a source of daily
Alleging that the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), introduced with the promise of ensuring faster and smoother travel, has instead become a source of daily inconvenience, residents staged a road blockade near Vidyagiri on Wednesday (August 5), demanding immediate corrective measures. The protesters said public representatives and officials, who had promised citizens an efficient transport system before the project was launched, should now answer for the problems being faced by commuters. Residents of Vidyagiri, Sattur and neighbouring localities alleged that BRTS, which was expected to improve urban mobility, had turned into a cause of frequent disruptions. The BRTS, launched over a decade ago to provide rapid transit between Hubballi and Dharwad, has failed to meet public expectations, they said.
Instead of facilitating smooth traffic movement, it has become an obstacle to seamless commuting. They alleged that repeated representations and appeals seeking improvements had gone unheeded. According to the protesters, travel time between the twin cities had increased because of the dedicated bus corridor. People using private vehicles were facing considerable hardship, while employees of government departments and private organisations were often unable to reach their workplaces on time. School and college students were also being forced to attend classes late owing to traffic congestion, they complained. The protesters questioned the absence of BRTS officials during emergencies and traffic disruptions.
They alleged that officials neither visit the affected locations nor respond promptly to phone calls. The protest was led by Pundalik Talwar, Guruprasad Karadennavar, Fakkiragouda Patil, Naveen Deshmukh, Varun Sankanagoudar and residents of Sattur, Udayanagar and Vanasiri Nagar. The protesters also alleged that the Circle Police Inspector of the Dharwad Traffic Police Station had not visited the spot despite repeated instances of traffic congestion along the BRTS corridor. Questioning whether the BRTS had become an “orphaned project”, the protesters said the transport system, conceived for the benefit of lakhs of commuters in Hubballi and Dharwad, had instead become a daily source of frustration.
They asked whether the recurring problems had escaped the attention of the local MP and MLAs, and urged the elected representatives to intervene before public resentment intensified. The protest was withdrawn after engineer Mustaq and North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation official Srisail met the residents and assured them of developing the junction near Sattur at the earliest. They promised the protesters that speed-breakers would also be installed to reduce the speed of buses passing through the area.
The BriefWire