MUMBAI: BEST authorities say they have been ready since last year to launch buses on dedicated lanes on the Western and Eastern Express highways. All the undertaking needs is a green signal from the MMRDA. "Even if we are given a 24-hour notice, we will be able to ply buses on dedicated lanes on the highways. But we cannot do so on our own, since MMRDA is the nodal agency," said BEST general manager Om Prakash Gupta.
Referring to the recent plan to launch a BRTS pilot project between Jogeshwari and Kandivli, he said the only hitch in implementation is the wait for the MMRDA's sanction.
BEST officials have attended several meetings conducted by the MMRDA on BRTS. But except for paperwork, the meetings have achieved nothing. Last year, the government planned to send abroad senior officials from the MMRDA, the urban development department and BEST to study project implementation for BRTS, but the trip never materialised.
"A BRTS for Mumbai has two key issues. One, dedicated lanes must be laid on roads and locations for bus stops decided upon keeping in mind vehicular traffic near crossings and flyovers. Two, there should be better regulation by the traffic police and the transport department," said Gupta at a BEST committee meeting. Another need is for feeder services near railway stations and also upcoming Metro and monorail stations.
BEST has already introduced fast track corridors on the express highways and runs AC buses on the Colaba-Thane, Mantralaya-Mahim, and Mahim-Mira Road routes. Gupta said: "For a BRTS, we will need at least a thousand more buses in our fleet."
SOURCE: BEST on its mark, set, raring to go - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/BEST-on-its-mark-set-raring-to-go/articleshow/7394079.cms#ixzz1CakKEcSg
Referring to the recent plan to launch a BRTS pilot project between Jogeshwari and Kandivli, he said the only hitch in implementation is the wait for the MMRDA's sanction.
BEST officials have attended several meetings conducted by the MMRDA on BRTS. But except for paperwork, the meetings have achieved nothing. Last year, the government planned to send abroad senior officials from the MMRDA, the urban development department and BEST to study project implementation for BRTS, but the trip never materialised.
"A BRTS for Mumbai has two key issues. One, dedicated lanes must be laid on roads and locations for bus stops decided upon keeping in mind vehicular traffic near crossings and flyovers. Two, there should be better regulation by the traffic police and the transport department," said Gupta at a BEST committee meeting. Another need is for feeder services near railway stations and also upcoming Metro and monorail stations.
BEST has already introduced fast track corridors on the express highways and runs AC buses on the Colaba-Thane, Mantralaya-Mahim, and Mahim-Mira Road routes. Gupta said: "For a BRTS, we will need at least a thousand more buses in our fleet."
SOURCE: BEST on its mark, set, raring to go - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/BEST-on-its-mark-set-raring-to-go/articleshow/7394079.cms#ixzz1CakKEcSg
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