Resume Metro bus from Gheo Mandi to airport, say Amritsar residents

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 6

After suspending the Metro bus service under the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) from Gheo Mandi to the airport, local NGOs, commuters and residents are demanding the resumption of the BRTS service on the route. The bus route was suspended after regular demonstrations by mini bus operators.

A local NGO, Amritsar Vikas Manch, has urged the Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, to resume the service on the route.

“It was the demand of air passengers to connect the airport and Darbar Sahib. Darbar Sahib is a religious place where almost every air traveller pays obeisance before boarding or alighting the plane. Gheo Mandi Chowk is only about 200 m away from Darbar Sahib and this small distance can be covered on foot. The Metro bus is a great service for air passengers, which must continue. The mini bus operators should not be allowed to disrupt the service. The district administration must deal with the protesting mini bus operators,” said Yogesh Kamra, secretary, AVM.

“The administration should find ways to protect the business interests of the mini bus operators, affected due to the plying of the Metro buses. One thing is clear that the service on the route should not be affected,” said Principal Kulwant Singh Ankhi.

Kuljit Singh, a resident, said, “On the one hand, MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla inaugurated the Metro bus service from Golden Temple to the airport on August 16. We had welcomed the move. But after 15 days, the same politician intervened and suspended the service bowing under pressure from the mini bus operators. The policies and programmes of the government should be implemented in the interest of the public, not some exclusive group for votes. The benefit of the public should not be ignored. Ironically, it happened in this case.”