To lessen traffic jams and unnecessary delays, the State Government is planning to introduce a high-speed bus service in Bhubaneswar by 2018. The proposed bus service named Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) is estimated to come up at Rs460 crore. Special road corridors would be constructed for plying of these special buses at a speed between of 80-100 km per hour.
Ahmadabad-based Center for Environment Planning and Technology has submitted a detailed project report (DPR) to the State Government in this regard. According to report, two routes, one from Airport to Nandankanan (30.2 km) and another from Kalpana to Mancheswar (36 km), would be constructed in the first phase.
Airport-Nandankanan route would cover Sishu Bhawan, Vani Vihar, Acharya Vihar, Sainik School, NAlCO Square and the KIIT Square. This route would come up at an estimated cost of Rs 460 crore, which would be borne by both the State and Central Governments.
The second route work would begin after the first route is thrown open for traffic. It would cover the Raj Mahal Square, Kalinga Nagar, Khandagiri, Apollo Hospital and Rasulgarh between Kalpana and Mancheswar.
“Roads would be widened and a special bus corridor will be created by demolishing the road dividers to facilitate these buses. The road will be protected with iron railing to ensure no other vehicle uses this dedicated road. Special arrangements will be made to ensure passengers get on and off from the buses without any hassles,” said an official.
He said the footpaths on two sides of roads would be pushed further. The BRTS system is already in place in cities such as Ahmadabad, Bhopal, Indore and New Delhi.