Allow parking of scooters at BRTS stations: Residents

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 20

Even as the Amritsar Metro Bus Service (BRTS) has received the award of excellence from the Union Government, local residents feel that much needs to be done to popularise the use of the public transport system.

Residents suggest that making provisions for two-wheeler riders to park their scooters and bikes at BRTS stations can help increase ridership.

“At present, the BRTS does not cover the entire city. People still have to take out their vehicles even if their destination is still on the BRTS route. If only the parking of scooters is allowed at BRTS stations for which a nominal fee too can be charged, it would be of great help,” suggested Navjivan Singh, a resident.

The residents say small buses on routes like the Majitha Road, Fatehgarh Choorian Road and other areas can also be started to increase ridership.

The city has around 9.5 lakh registered vehicles, out of which at least 60 per cent are two-wheelers. Congestion on roads due to heavy vehicular traffic is a problem which the city has been facing for a long time.

The Comprehensive Mobility Plan for Amritsar, commissioned by the Punjab Municipal Development and Industrial Corporation and supported by the JNNURM (released in March 2012), had suggested increasing dependence on use of public transport systems to minimise transportation expenditure of residents. 

According to Household Survey-Central Employment Statistics 2011, the average transport expenditure per family in the city is 14.2 per cent of the total expenditure, which is only second to expenditure on kitchen (25.2 per cent). The residents said a better public transport system would not only help residents save on money but also check problems like pollution.