Bhopal Bus Rapid Transit System
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox Public transit
| name = Bhopal BRTS
| image =
| caption =
| transit_type = Bus rapid transit
| began_operation =
| system_length = {{convert|186|km|mi}}
| lines = 10
| terminals =
| vehicles = 225
| stations = 230
| ridership = 1.25 Lakhs
| track_gauge =
| operator = Bhopal Municipal Corporation
| website = [http://www.mybusbhopal.in/ MyBus Bhopal]
| start = {{Start date and age|2013|09|27}}
| end = {{Start date and age|2024|01|20}}
}}
Bhopal BRTS was a bus rapid transit system in Bhopal, located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. The construction was funded by the Central Government under its flagship JnNURM. Unlike most of BRT projects in India which are designed to cater the transportation needs of suburban parts of the city, Bhopal BRTS is designed mainly to serve the Central business districts (CBDs). It was launched with a fleet of just 30 buses in 2006, after receiving JnNURM Sanction, and has grown to 225 buses comprising AC and Non AC Low Floor Buses.{{Cite web|url=http://www.slideshare.net/rayalaspandana/towards-sustainable-bhopal|title = Towards sustainable bhopal|date = 9 January 2012}}
On 26 December 2023, following a meeting at the state secretariat, the Government of Madhya Pradesh led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav made the decision to discontinue the BRTS project. The reason cited for the decision was the traffic problems arising due to the corridor.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-28 |title=Madhya Pradesh scraps Shivraj Singh Chouhan govt’s Rs 360 crore Bhopal bus corridor |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/madhya-pradesh-scraps-shivraj-singh-chouhan-govts-rs-360-crore-bhopal-bus-corridor-9085513/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-12-28 |title=दिल्ली के बाद अब भोपाल की सड़कों से भी 15 साल बाद हटेगा BRTS, जानिए क्यों सफल नहीं हुआ बस कॉरिडोर प्रोजेक्ट |url=https://www.aajtak.in/madhya-pradesh/story/brts-end-in-bhopal-causing-more-traffic-problems-ntc-1847700-2023-12-28 |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=आज तक |language=hi}} In its place, a central road divider was planned to be erected to separate the traffic between the two lanes.{{Cite web |title=राजधानी भोपाल की सड़कों से 15 साल बाद हटेगा BRTS, बनाया जाएगा सेंट्रल रोड डिवाइडर |url=https://mpcg.ndtv.in/madhya-pradesh-news/brts-will-be-removed-from-the-roads-of-capital-bhopal-after-15-years-central-road-divider-will-be-built-in-place-of-brts-4747826 |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=mpcg.ndtv.in |language=hi}}{{Cite web |date=2023-12-27 |title=‘Causing more traffic problems’: State orders to scrap BRTS corridor in Bhopal |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bhopal-news/causing-more-traffic-problems-state-orders-to-scrap-brts-corridor-in-bhopal-101703677737123.html |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}} The process of dismantling the corridor began on 20 January 2024.{{Cite web |title=Bhopal: BRTS Corridor Removal From Jan 20 |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-brts-corridor-removal-from-jan-20 |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=MP News: 20 जनवरी से हटेगा भोपाल बीआरटीएस, बैरागढ़ से होगी शुरुआत, सीएम बोले- हटाने का काम रात में करें |url=https://www.amarujala.com/madhya-pradesh/bhopal/mp-news-bhopal-brts-will-be-removed-from-january-20-will-start-from-bairagarh-cm-said-removal-work-should-2024-01-17 |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}{{Cite web |title=भोपाल में 20 जनवरी से हटेगा बीआरटीएस, बैरागढ़ से होगी शुरुआत |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/madhya-pradesh/bhopal/bhopal-brts-will-be-removed-from-january-20-cm-mohan-yadav-gave-big-instructions-in-meeting-know-full-plan/articleshow/106926924.cms |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Navbharat Times |language=hi}}
Routes
= Route Classification =
The routes under this project have been classified into the following four categories:{{cite web |url=http://www.bhopalcitylink.com/BusRoute.html |title=Bhopal City Link | Purple |accessdate=2013-03-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625220032/http://www.bhopalcitylink.com/BusRoute.html |archivedate=2012-06-25 }}
- Trunk Routes:
Connect major activity centers by Bus Rapid Transit System. Farthest Activity center should be accessible within 45 minutes
of journey time.
- Standard Routes:
Connect major origin & destination pairs of the city. These are replacement of Mini bus routes.
- Complimentary Routes:
These are complementary to Trunk and standard routes. Routes covering less dense Public transit demand corridors.
- Intermediate Para Transit (IPT) Routes:
These are feeder service to all above mentioned routes, mainly catering intra-zonal trips.
=Route List=
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Type (No.) | Route | Bus Stops |
|---|---|---|
| Trunk route 1 | Chirayu Hospital/ Bairagarh to Aakriti Eco City | 50 |
| Trunk route 2 | Old Bus Stand to HEG Mandideep | 34 |
| Trunk route 3 | Nehru Nagar to Patel Nagar | - |
| Trunk route 4 | Bairagarh/ Sehore Naka to HEG Mandideep or Bangrasiya | 47 |
| Standard route 1 | Bairagarh/ Sehore Naka to Bairagarh Chichli | 35 |
| Standard route 2 | Nehru Nagar to Katara Hills | 45 |
| Standard route 3 | Gandhi Nagar to Salaiyya/ Aakriti Eco City | 58 |
| Standard route 4 | Karound Chauraha to Bairagarh Chichli | 50 |
| Standard route 5 | Chirayu Hospital/ Bairagarh to Awadhpuri Khajuri Kalan | 50 |
| Standard route 6 | City Depot Square to Ayodhya Nagar | 48 |
| Standard route 7 | Gandhi Nagar to Patel Nagar Bypass | 46 |
| Standard route 8 | Coach Factory to Bairagarh Chichli | 53 |
= Bus Stops =
80 Bus Stops are being built along the 24 km long corridor. Ramp-building for most of the Stops is underway and Bhopal Municipal Corporation is likely to complete the work by June, 2013. Also, one part of corridor, which runs through Misrod to RRL may start working by 31 March 2013. A trial run was conducted earlier and minor difficulties have been sorted out. These Bus-Stops will have Display-Boards with the information of incoming Buses and siting arrangements will be made for the passengers. A 2-door system will help safe ride for the passengers, where one door will open only when the Bus arrives and another door will open only if the person carries a valid ticket. The stops are being built on PPP, where the contractor will be responsible for maintenance of the Stops and in-turn will have to right to put up advertisements and earn revenue.
"Chalo" Android App
There is full featured Android App available in Play Store for the information related to Bhopal Brts by the name Chalo.https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.seatech.bhopalbrts {{Dead link|date=February 2022}} Developer of the app already worked on the Windows version of the app and this is available for Windows Phone and Windows 10 devices .
Problems
- The construction of the corridors is creating traffic woes at various locations.{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Incomplete-BRTS-work-adds-to-traffic-woes/articleshow/18055071.cms |title=Incomplete BRTS work adds to traffic woes - Times of India |website=The Times of India |access-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411041611/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-17/bhopal/36393542_1_traffic-signals-traffic-woes-brts-construction |archive-date=11 April 2013 |url-status=live}}
- Commuters are found riding on the already built 'bus-only' lanes, and police fear that this situation will continue even after the project is completed.
References
{{City of Bhopal}}
{{Bus rapid transit in India}}
{{Portal|Buses|Transport}}