Ahmedabad BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) News

Biker escapes unhurt after BRTS runs over
Ahmedabad Mirror | 3 days ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
3 days ago | |

Early morning on Monday, a BRTS bus driver steered his vehicle to the wrong side of BRTS track on Shivranjni crossroads and hit a bike.Though the bike rider was unhurt, a look on the bike lying beneath the bus at the accident site can lead one to think otherwise. Soon, passers-by blocked the BRTS bus and brought its driver outside. They asked him to pay for the loss of the bike rider.However, the driver refused. Thereafter, onlookers blocked other BRTS buses also. However, when a police team arrived at the scene of the crime they tried to blame the public gathered at the spot for creating chaos. This infuriated the crowd and they accused the police team of siding with the driver as he was a government servant like them. AM

Biker escapes unhurt after BRTS runs over
Airport bus underused, ridership only 600/day
Ahmedabad Mirror | 1 week ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
1 week ago | |

Airport BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) buses see a ridership of a mere 600 average per day. The bus on ‘Udaan route’ launched in October 2021 has a mixed route from Airport-Iskcon-Airport, and Airport-Maninagar- Airport. The average per day ridership is based on the number of passengers taking the bus for the airport and leaving from there. The revenue of the bus, which takes passengers only from the domestic terminal, ranges from Rs 32,000 to Rs 35,000 per day. The estimated travellers taking the bus is about 1,500 average per day.Its frequency of the 30 electrical 27 seater buses, with facilities to keep the luggage, ranges from 15 to 20 minutes. The low visibility of the Airport BRTS bus needs to be worked on and improved. Sources said, “There is a dedicated station at the airport and it costs a mere Rs 50 to reach your destination. But there are many passengers who are not aware of its availability.”Promotion for the service was done by Janmarg through various media platforms, marketing, and pamphlets were distributed. “One reason is that the BRTS operation runs from 6 am to 11 pm. People often land by late-night flights and the BRTS buses are not available at that time,” the sources said.The non-profit campaign ‘Bus4us Amdavad’ aims to garner public support for buses in the city and is initiated by Urbanworks which works with AMC to make the visibility of the service better.Aarti Nair, senior communication officer of Urbanworks, said, “We are tapping influencers through social media campaigns so that the Airport BRTS bus is used. The low ridership is because people have a tendency to book taxis. Most people think that public transport is for a certain class. This needs to be changed.”Social media posts and tweets on it suggest that it is appreciated by people but it needs momentum. Arjit Soni stated in a tweet, “Enroute Airport to Iskcon crossroads for just 50 bucks. Courtesy@Ahmedabad BRTS.”BRTS general manager Vishal Khanama said, “We have collaborated with Bus4us of Urbanworks to promote it, and with airport authorities to make it more visible.”

Airport bus underused, ridership only 600/day
More Amdavadis hopping on to BRTS after Covid
Ahmedabad Mirror | 3 weeks ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
3 weeks ago | |

Too many Amdavadis are hopping on to the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) for a commute as the number of passengers using the public transport system has seen a surge post covid. The numbers for both BRTS passengers and revenue are better compared to what it was during the pre-covid days.However, as for the Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS), the per day passenger numbers are the same as it was pre Covid.BRTS gets a boostPost-Covid the BRTS ferried 2.10 lakh passengers per day and earned a revenue of Rs 27 lakh from April to September 2022 compared to 1,43,771 passengers/day and Rs 19.04 lakh in revenue during pre-Covid times (2018-19).Sources said the BRTS service was shut down for some months in 2020 ad 2021 and after it resumed services its passenger numbers per day were in the thousands. “It took around six to eight months to normalise the service,” said the source.Those in the know said the surge in passenger numbers and resultant revenue can be attributed to the fact that BRTS fares have not increased in the last eight years.“Moreover, now all buses are air-conditioned. People are also realising that public transport is cheaper on the pocket and the last mile connectivity has helped attract more passengers,” said a source.The service at present runs 330 buses on 18 routes. It has added new routes and extended others after 2019.“Earlier, there were 160 BRTS stations which have gone to 195 now. The new routes like Maninagar to Airport, Nehrunagar to South Bopal and extension of the service to cover new areas like Sarkhej, Juhapura, Sanand from Vasna Adalaj, Trimandir from LD- Jundal, Airport, Hanspura Ring road have boosted the usage,” said the source.He said a BRTS station at Kalupur railway station has also helped matters.In 2019 the service had just 230 buses which increased to 330 now.“We had to increase the buses as the earlier ones were 12 metres in length but the new ones are 9 metres midibus and hence can ferry less number of passengers,” said a source.BRTS General Manager Vishal Khanama said, “Our commitment to frequency has helped raise ridership and revenue. Electrical buses are also extremely comfortable to travel in.”

More Amdavadis hopping on to BRTS after Covid
EXPOSED! 100 light poles where accidents can happen
Ahmedabad Mirror | 3 weeks ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
3 weeks ago | |

The BRTS route from Bopal near Vakil bridge to Ghuma Gam has more than 100 streetlight poles on both sides of the stretch, but barring a few poles, live wires are hanging out from open boxes at most places, which have become a cause for concern. This can lead to electric shocks, and a risk to people’s life. Also, open wiring leaves the streetlight poles vulnerable to electricity theft.A local resident said, “The boxes have been in this state for the past two months at least. They must be covered as exposed wires are a risk for BRTS commuters. These can also be misused for electricity theft. Some of them even have TV cables in them.”Electricity poles in the area arein the series of SFBR, UTBR, PNBR, ICBR, BUBR, NDBR, RTBR, TRBR with numberings from 82349to 82514.Sejal Patel, 38, a housewife, said, “I occasionally use BRTS to travel to Maninagar. The open wires on the poles can be a threat to life. Kids can knowingly or unknowingly touch them and can get an electric shock. They are a risk for birds. I feel these should be covered immediately.”Jigar Bharwad, 23, student and UPSC exam aspirant, said, “This shows the callous approach of the authorities. At times, there are cows also on the roads. It can harm them too. Open wires can also be very hazardous during unseasonal rains, causing electric shocks. The BRTS railing is made of iron and the current can flow on it unrestrained.”At some places even cable junction boxes on the streetlight poles are open.Sajeeb Nair, 38, who works in a logistics company and travels by BRTS to Lal Darwaza, said, “Looking at the condition of the electricity boxes, it seems some work was going on. But I am surprised that wiring on the entire stretch is open and incomplete. If they are open for repairs, the authorities must ensure that workmen close and seal the wire boxes after repair work is done, and officials must check this.”Hetal Rajput, 29, a software engineer, said, “This clearly reflects the carelessness of the authorities. They should fix such issues immediately. It can be dangerous for anyone.”Another local resident said, “Before Bopal-Ghuma areas were merged with AMC, we could file a complaint over such issues to the agency the nagarpalika had contracted for repairs.”When contacted, an official from the AMC’s streetlight department said, “We will look into the matter immediately. I am informing the authorities concerned to cover the boxes.”

EXPOSED! 100 light poles where accidents can happen
Ahd: Woman on morning walk hit by bus, dies
Times of India | 1 month ago | |
Times of India
1 month ago | |

AHMEDABAD: A 38-year-old woman, Prachi Ramchandani, a resident of Kubernagar, died after she was hit by a BRTS bus near Naroda Patiya on Thursday morning. A complaint in this connection was lodged with G Division traffic police by her husband Vinod Ramchandani. The accident took place when the driver was reversing the vehicle. Vinod, in his complaint, stated that his wife went for a walk after dropping their kids at the school bus stop. At around 7.30am he received a call from his brother-in-law, Deepak, who informed him that Prachi met with an accident with a BRTS bus.Vinod rushed to the spot. People gathered there told him that the driver was reversing the bus when it hit Prachi. Police have registered a case against the bus driver. tnn

Ahd: Woman on morning walk hit by bus, dies
Out for walk, woman run over by bus in Ahmedabad
The Indian Express | 1 month ago | |
The Indian Express
1 month ago | |

A Bus Rapid transit System (BRTS) bus ran over a 38-year-old woman who was out for a walk in Ahmedabad Thursday morning.As per the FIR registered with the G Traffic police station, Prachi Ramchandani, a resident of Sardarnagar area, went for a walk at around 7 am and her husband received a call around 7.30 am that she had met with an accident in Naroda Patiya area. On reaching the spot, her husband found Prachi dead with injuries. Passersby who gathered in the area told him that a reversing BRTS bus ran over her and she died on the spot.The bus driver has been booked under IPC sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 304 A (causing death by negligence) and Motor Vehicle Act sections 177 (general provision for punishment of offences), 184 (driving dangerously) and 134 (b) (duty of driver in case of accident and injury to a person).

Out for walk, woman run over by bus in Ahmedabad
Lack of parking facilities at Metro stations dampener for commuters
Ahmedabad Mirror | 1 month ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
1 month ago | |

The kalupur Metro station Rail got a big thumbs up from citizens on Sunday when 45,000 of them took the ride between Thaltej and Kalupur, just for sake of it. However, lack of parking infrastructure at Metro stations can discourage people from using it on a daily basis. BRTS continues to suffer for lack of parking facilities near the bus stations. Mirror followed the Metro Rail route between Kalupur metro Station and Thaltej and found that there is no parking space for cars or two-wheelers at Stadium Crossroads, Commerce Six Roads, Gurukul, Doordarshan and Thaltej. There’s facility to park two-wheelers only at the Kalupur Metro Rail Station. Managing Director of Metro Rail S S Rathore told Mirror, “The very purpose of Metro is to reduce vehicles plying on roads. It will be defeated if commuters bring their own vehicles to stations. Globally, the concept of Metro rail is to ease traffic congestion. We have metro stations every 1 to 1.2 km and our catchment area is 600 metres from metro stations. Besides, there are two points where the route coincides with BRTS and that can be used for connectivity.”Kalupur No Dedicated space for parkingThere is enough space forparking two-wheelers but nodedicated space. The parked bikes and scooters mostly belong to Metro rail staff. A Metro rail personnel at the control room said, “There was excitement in the air on Sunday. But on day 2, few people are travelling by Metro as there are no parking spaces in the vicinity of the stations.Asif Shaikh, 31, who works in Gheekanta and was travelling by Metro rail to experience it for the first time, said, “Without the parking space, people are unlikely to take the Metro Rail on a daily basis to work.”Sardar Patel Stadium No parking spaceThere were only seven commuters at the station, mostly students. Cars parked outside by the roadside belonged to visitors to a local diagnostic centre or other businesses. Station manager Pathak said, “There’s no parking space at present. It may be created at a later date.”Nirav Patel (49), a Civil Engineer and resident of Usmanpura, said, “ I came in a rickshaw from Usmanpura because I was keen to experience the Metro ride. In absence of parking space, it will be tough for Metro authorities to get commuters in large numbers on a daily basis.”Thaltej No parking spaceThe starting point of the Metro in the west lacks parking space. Vehicles were parked on the road in front of the Metro station stairs.Anurag Malkani (19), a physiotherapy student travelling for the first time in Metro rail, said, “Parking space with security is a must if one wants regular commuters. This should have been pre-planned by the Metro Rail authorities.”Gujarat Uni No parking spaceThe security guard pointed at the footpath and under the stairs leading to Metro Rail where several two-wheelers were parked, mostly by metro rail employees. He said cars will have to park on the streets.Maulik Shah (43), a businessman said, “I reside at Odhav and had taken the Metro from Nirat Park station. “There is no parking space either at Nirat Park or at Gujarat University. It is a big drawback.”Gurukul No parking spaceThe footpath below the station was jam-packed with two-wheelers and cars. In absence of dedicated security for parked vehicles, commuters would find it tough to leave behind their vehicles and take Metro.Rushank Shah (42), a Naranpura resident, had come to take a joyride in Metro. He had parked his vehicle below the station. “Most people will reach the Metro station on some kind of vehicle. Parking facilities need to be built with adequate security if it has to be used by office goers daily.”Commerce Six Roads No space for parkingThe main road in front of the Metro Rail stairs was full with vehicles of commuters with no space left for passengers to go. The Security guard was seen lifting the two-wheelers to make space for people to get into the Metro Rail.There are hospitals, businesses, shops and offices on the road, each vying for the road space.Sandip Desai (25), a resident of Odhav whose workplace is at Swastik Crossroads, said, “I took the train from Vastral to Commerce Six Roads. There is an open plot which can be used at Vastral for parking but it is not for Metro Rail alone. There is no parking space at Commerce Six roads. I will be reluctant to park my vehicle here as it is on the open road and there’s no security.”

Lack of parking facilities at Metro stations dampener for commuters
Ahmedabad: BRTS driver beats paan shop owner
Times of India | 2 months ago | |
Times of India
2 months ago | |

AHMEDABAD: A 28-year-old man from Wadaj, who runs a pan shop in Ranip, on Tuesday filed a police complaint alleging that a BRTS driver assaulted him and damaged his goods over a dispute concerning the amount of tobacco in his paan masala. Chetaram Sharma, a resident of Jivabai Rabari chawl in Wadaj, in his FIR with Ranip police said that the accused, Vishal Rabari, the BRTS driver, bought a paan masala at Sharma's shop. While chewing the masala, he asked Sharma why he had not put enough tobacco. Sharma said he could not afford giving tobacco in abundance to every customer. On hearing this, Rabari attacked Sharma and vandalized his shop. tnn

Ahmedabad: BRTS driver beats paan shop owner
Ahmedabad: Stray cow jumps off balcony
Times of India | 2 months ago | |
Times of India
2 months ago | |

AHMEDABAD: In a bizarre incident, a stray cow that was avoiding capture by the civic body's cattle nuisance control department (CNCD) teams, climbed the first floor of a building and then jumped off the balcony. The incident took place in Gomtipur on Friday. Sources said CNCD was trying to capture the stray cow in Gomtipur. However, the bovine climbed a building opposite the main BRTS stand in Gomtipur. Sources said the cow received serious injuries. tnn

Ahmedabad: Stray cow jumps off balcony
Ahd: BRTS, AMTS buses set to undergo safety audit
Times of India | 2 months ago | |
Times of India
2 months ago | |

AHMEDABAD: The civic body has resolved to carry out a safety audit of all BRTS and AMTS buses operating in the city. According to sources, the AMC has decided to give the job of the safety audit to a Mumbai-based agency that analyzes automobile accidents. Officials said that the same agency was assigned to investigate the reasons for the September 4 accident in which Cyrus Mistry, a prominent businessman, was killed while travelling from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. The decision to conduct the safety audit comes a day after a BRTS bus carrying 25 passengers caught fire on Friday. The bus had gone up in flames just as it docked at the Memnagar bus stand at around 8.30am. The fire once again brought to the fore the crucial issue of periodical maintenance and safety audits of public buses. The civic body has requested the Directorate of Forensic Science Services to investigate why the bus, which runs on CNG, caught fire. The AMC has slapped a fine of Rs 2 lakh on the bus operator, Travel Time. The bus driver was the first to notice smoke emanating from the engine. He raised an alarm and docked the bus close to the sensor-based automatic gates, allowing the passengers to escape immediately. None of the passengers was hurt. Those waiting to board the Route-3 bus also exited the bus stand. Deputy municipal commissioner Arjav Shah said that a technical inquiry has been instituted to examine the fire and discussions are on about the safety audit. "We have decided to conduct a safety audit of all AMTS and BRTS buses," Shah said. "We want to assign this job to the Mumbai-based institute that investigated the accident in which Tata Group's ex-chairman Cyrus Mistry was killed. The agency is known for its research on automobile safety. We may also assign the job to Forensic Science Laboratory, Gandhinagar." There are about 888 buses in the AMTS fleet of which 800 ply every day in the city. BRTS has 350 buses, including electric and CNG variants, of which 300 ply daily. Sources said that 1,000-1,100 AMTS and BRTS buses transport about 7.5 lakh commuters across the city daily. The sources said that most of the BRTS buses are air-conditioned which need extra safety measures as they are susceptible to fire. The sources said that the proposal of safety audit will be sent to the AMC commissioner for approval and after getting his clearance the process of selection will start.

Ahd: BRTS, AMTS buses set to undergo safety audit
The not-so smart toilets
Ahmedabad Mirror | 3 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
3 months ago | |

When launched in 2020, the smart toilets marked the arrival of the most basic facility for citizens along with clean and hygienic environs which were earlier missing from public toilets. Built at prominent locations in the city, the 24x7 facility could be used with a drop of a coin with separate toilets for men and women. The free sanitary pads for women was an added bonus.But the inordinate delays in building them or opening them to the public, automatic doors not opening at several smart toilets, disconnected power and water supply and unclean surroundings are the biggest drawbacks. At someplaces, the sanitary pads are missing from the dispensing machine. A Mirror Check at some of the smart toilets revealed poor state of their maintenance.BRTS Stand, near Nehrunagar CircleFor the past six days, the Smart toilet at Nehrunagar BRTS bus stand has faced several problems. The men’s toilet door does not close, the lights and water are disconnected. A notice over the men’s toilet reads “Smart toilet nu kaam chalu chhe (Smart toilet work is on)”.Besides, the caretaker who has been appointed says that he has to drop the garbage at the garbage dump nearby as it is not collected from toilets.The caretaker told Mirror that the toilet has not been working for the past six to seven days and that the door has not been repaired. Besides, power and water connections have been disconnected.places, the sanitary pads are missing from the dispensing machine. A Mirror Check at some of the smart toilets revealed poor state of their maintenance.BRTS Stand, near Nehrunagar CircleFor the past six days, the Smart toilet at Nehrunagar BRTS bus stand has faced several problems. The men’s toilet door does not close, the lights and water are disconnected. A notice over the men’s toilet reads “Smart toilet nu kaam chalu chhe (Smart toilet work is on)”.Besides, the caretaker who has been appointed says that he has to drop the garbage at the garbage dump nearby as it is not collected from toilets. The caretaker told Mirror that the toilet has not been working for the past six to seven days and that the door has not been repaired. Besides, power and water connections have been disconnected.Jodhpur, oppositeStar BazaarSanitary pads, diapers and garbage could be seen lying on the steps of the toilet for males. The general lack of cleanliness at the Smart toilet was evident from the full garbage bin from which an unmistakable stench emanated.A user said the inside of the toilets were adequate but he had to hop over the garbage to take the steps.RC Technical InstituteThe toilet just outside the gate has not been opened to the public despite having been constructed seven to eight months back. The location is ideal considering that they have been placed at intermittent distances on the SG Highway. However, not opening it up for public use defeats the purpose.The owner of a tea stall at the RC Technical Institute told Mirror that the toilet is ready but has not been opened up since the past seven months.Sola Civil Hospital,Opposite RC TechnicalThe male toilet was out of use and the door could not be opened even after dropping the coin. Besides, the garbage bin was full and the sanitary pads in the box were exhausted and not refilled. Dirty water had collected just outside the toilet and mosquitoes and other insects could be seen on the sink.A user said, “I use the toilet often and at most times it is fine, but they need to work at all times or people will start peeing out in the open.”Thaltej, Opposite Triumph motorcycles showroomThe toilet was in working condition but the sanitary pads dispensing box was missing.Sindhu Bhavan RoadThe men’s toilet did not open after being closed. An operator instructed the man through a loudspeaker near the CCTV camera, that the user can use the female toilet if the male toilet door is not opening.Sardar Patel Garden, Behind CIMS HospitalThe construction of the smart toilet here started in 2019 and has been going at snail’s pace. A shopkeeper nearby told Mirror that the water tank was constructed only last week and officials are yet to test the coin dropping equipment. “Many citizens come here but have to return after finding that it is not yet ready,” the shopkeeper said.What AMC saysDyMC in charge of Smart Toilets Praveen Chaudhary told Mirror that there are in all 26 smart toilets of which 21 are working. “Whenever we learn about facilities not working well at any of the smart toilets, we take it up immediately with the agency. Approval has been given for setting up 60 such toilets.”

The not-so smart toilets
Ahmedabad: Modi govt spends 6 times more on railways in Gujarat than UPA, says Amit Shah
The Indian Express | 4 months ago | |
The Indian Express
4 months ago | |

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday that the Narendra Modi government is spending six times more money annually on the railway network in Gujarat as compared to the previous UPA government.“The Congress government (UPA) in Delhi used to spend Rs 590 crore every year on the railway network in Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi increased this spending from Rs 590 crore to Rs 3,960 crore between 2014 and 2022,” said Shah, who was addressing a gathering at Chandlodiya locality of Ahmedabad.Pointing out that projects like Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) and Sabarmati riverfront have been successful only in Ahmedabad, Shah said, “As far as development is concerned, PM Modi has done a lot of work for Ahmedabad. I have never seen a riverfront like this anywhere else in the country. Weddings, morning walks, boating, and picnics can all be done on the riverfront. Similarly, BRTS has not been successful anywhere else apart from Ahmedabad.”“The (Ahmedabad) metro project is also nearing completion. Once it finishes, people in the city will not have to burn petrol. Like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, they can simply hop on the metro and reach their workplace,” he said, speaking about Phase 1 of the project.On Saturday, Shah inaugurated projects worth Rs 33.29 crore carried out jointly by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Western Railway. This includes improving the existing platform and building a new booking office at Chandlodiya station, a railway under bridge between Chandlodiya and Khodiyar and three waiting rooms and foot-over-bridge at Sabarmati railway station.In his speech, Shah said during the last three years, 10 over bridges or underpasses have been built in Sabarmati Assembly constituency (part of Ahmedabad city) and thus the government has eliminated the need for railway crossings. “From today, 10 trains, including Gorakhpur-Okha Express, Somnath-Jabalpur Express, Bandra-Veraval, Mumbai-Okha Express, Ahmedabad-Somnath Express, Vadodara-Jamnagar train, will have stoppages at Chandlodiya railway station,” Shah said.The Union minister also asked people of his Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency to plant trees. “There is no doubt in my mind that we will become the most developed constituency in the country. I have made a five-year plan. Covid-19 has punctured it a bit, but still development is on track,” he added.

Ahmedabad: Modi govt spends 6 times more on railways in Gujarat than UPA, says Amit Shah
BRTS bus knocks down pedestrian, fracturing his skull
Ahmedabad Mirror | 5 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
5 months ago | |

A 21-year-old youth living in Satellite was knocked down by a BRTS bus on Monday, leaving him with a fracture in the skull. The incident took place while the youth was on his way to office and was walking on the zebra crossing. An FIR was registered against the BRTS bus driver at the N-traffic police station.Bhushan Patil (21), hailing from Maharashtra, lives in a PG accomodation near the Jhansi Ki Rani statue area in Satellite with his friend Pavan Marathe and others. Patil and Marathe work in a private bank. On Monday morning, they were crossing the road near Mangalya society on way to office when a BRTS bushit Patil.The bus driver stopped the bus, but Patil by then had fallen on the ground and injured his head. Marathe immediately took Patil to a nearby private hospital in an autorickshaw. CT scan and an X-ray revealed a fracture in the skull, which also caused a haemorrhage.Patil is admitted in the ICU ward. His friend Marathe said, “He received 12 stitches for the injury. The doctor is awaiting further reports to decide if he will need an operation.”An offence was registered against the BRTS bus driver, identified as Manu Pateliya. He was arrested and released on bail.When contacted, BRTS general manager Vishal Khanama said, “As part of the procedure, a notice has been issued to the contractor and penalty will be imposed for negligence.”

BRTS bus knocks down pedestrian, fracturing his skull
AMC to lease out unused part of BRTS optic fibre network
Times of India | 5 months ago | |
Times of India
5 months ago | |

Ahmedabad: As the civic body’s bus rapid transit system (BRTS) is proving a white elephant in terms of revenue generation and has failed to provide effective public transport services, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) now aims to maximise its revenue by renting out its infrastructure.Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd (AJL), the special purpose vehicle of the AMC that manages the BRTS has decided to rent out its optical fibre cable network to private telecom providers.Smart City Ahmedabad Development Ltd (SCADL), another special purpose vehicle of the AMC and the state government, had laid an optic fibre cable network connecting BRTS stations, AMTS depots and zonal offices to AJL’s main data centre at the Usmanpura AMC zonal office and its disaster recovery site at the AMC headquarters in Danapith. The approximate length of this network is 170km. The civic body intends to monetize this dedicated optic fibre cable network to generate extra revenue.Currently, AMC is using part of the fibre for its own services. “However, some of the fibre core pairs are unused. The civic body intends to rent out this portion for a period of 10 years,” a senior AMC official said.The private player will have marketing rights for the optical fibre network and can use it on its own or sub-let it further to private entities.Sources said the leasing procedure will abide by the rules of the department of telecommunication, the official said. The AMC will initially lease out the network for a decade. Depending on the performance of the lessee, it may extend it for 10 more years. The official said it has already initiated the process for inviting bids and expects to complete the selection and finalize a lessee in the next few months.

AMC to lease out unused part of BRTS optic fibre network
Cyclists on rise even as bicycle lanes shrink
Ahmedabad Mirror | 5 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
5 months ago | |

The road to cycling in Ahmedabad has many bumps – disappearing cycle tracks, encroached bike lanes and a non-existent traffic sense to name a few.Interestingly, cycle tracks in Ahmedabad made a premature entry when the number of cyclists was relatively low. Now, as the world talks of sustainable living and reducing carbon footprint, the AMC seems to be going backwards as a sizeable number of cycling tracks have disappeared with no signs of their revival.Built on both sides of the BRT corridor, the city once boasted around 40 km of cycle tracks. The tracks and the BRT project won several accolades, but now as the number of cyclists goes up, less than 5 km of dedicated usable cycle tracks remain.Encroachments and misuse by other vehicles for parking and riding among other things have slowly eroded the cycle tracks. Today the Sabarmati Riverfront is among the only places where one finds cyclists riding at ease.The lack of dedicated tracks means, cycling enthusiasts mostly use it for health and hobby and not commuting.​​​​​​​Cyclists on the riseCovid-19 and the closure of gyms led to a surge in the number of cyclists on Ahmedabad streets, especially for leisure and workouts. This trend continued even post-Covid.Rahul Parikh, who owns Revolution, the Cycle Shop, near Mansi and rents out high-end cycles said there has been a 20% surge in cyclists compared to the pre-Covid times. “Our weekend trips now have more cycling enthusiasts. Our batch size is restricted to 25 to 30 participants, but overall registration for weekend trips is very high,” said Parikh.Rahul organises 50km rides for cyclists to places such as Indroda and Thol on weekends. He said the surge in people taking up cycling happened during Covid when gyms were shut down.“Regular cycling helps in weight loss and aids in controlling diabetes and hypertension. We have doctors who are regular cyclists and vouch for its benefits,” said Parikh.Despite the surge, cyclists in the city run the risk of accidents and worry about other safety concerns due to the lack of dedicated cycling lanes.“The number of casual riders has increased, but the city needs dedicated lanes to help them commute which will also reduce pollution.”Arjit of My Byk, a private bike-share network which has 3,000 cycles across 150 bike stations in Ahmedabad said he started the company with a vision to make Ahmedabad the bicycle capital of India.The AMC gave the go-ahead for the bike share concept in December 2019 just before the pandemic. “After the lockdown in June 2020, 95% of the trips were for health and leisure. Now, 60% are for leisure and 40% are for commuting. But this statistic will be completely reversed if the city has a dedicated cycle lane,” said Arjit.He said the city needs a cohesive network of cycle lanes with an end to end journey that is protected, secure and shaded.“In the past Ahmedabad had a dedicated lane but no cyclists. Today we have cyclists and it is time to build the cycle lane,” he said.My Byk started with 1,000 bikes and now has 3,000. It has 3 lakh users with over 50,000 unique active users in a month.Middle path for lanesArjit believes that dedicated cycle lanes on the left side of the road make it prone to encroachment. “The left side is not linear and is unsafe for cyclists. It also blocks access to shops and is encroached for parking. Cycle lanes like the BRTS must be on the median side of the road,” Arjit said.Nikita Lalwani, 32, the first Bicycle Mayor of India and founder of the Crooze app, that rewards people for cycling said that Ahmedabad needs a comprehensive cycling plan with a focus on making cycling safe and accessible for all. “Constructing one or two cycle lanes cannot help promote cycling. A cyclist needs linear lanes and networked cycling paths. Other than that the city should also focus on behavioural engagement with citizens and people need to be nudged to use them,” said Lalwani.Routes along the BRTS approach routes are used by cyclists for commuting, while the roads between SG Highway and SP Ring Road including the Sindhu Bhavan Road, the Iskcon-Aambli Road, and the Zydus Hospital Road are used by those who cycle for leisure.Rahul said across the world cycle lanes are shaded by solar panels that help provide shade and generate electricity.A cyclist and associate professor at CEPT Rutul Joshi said that before committing to build dedicated cycle tracks the civic authorities must regulate footpaths for pedestrian access and parking.“The free left turn also needs to be redesigned as it will ensure pedestrian safety and create room for cycle paths. It is a misconception that a free left turn eases traffic congestion. Besides, there needs to be a separate junction box for cyclists at traffic junctions where they can proceed when the signal gets green,” said Joshi.Municipal Commissioner Lochan did not respond to calls and messages sent by Mirror.

Cyclists on rise even as bicycle lanes shrink
Special bus services on offer
Times of India | 6 months ago | |
Times of India
6 months ago | |

Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will press in AMTS and BRTS buses to ensure more people use public transport for the IPL matches on Friday and Sunday at Narendra Modi stadium in Motera.AMC officials in a statement said 56 special buses will be deployed for the match on Friday and the number will increase to 65 on Sunday. The AMC said 24 BRTS buses will ply from LD College to Zundal Circle via Shivranjani and Memnagar. Six buses will be deployed from Iskcon Circle to Visat Circle via Jodhpur, Shivranjani, Memnagar, Ranip, RTO and Visat Junction. On Friday, six buses will be available on this route while on Sunday the number will be seven.A special route from Nehrunagar to Visat will be available only on Sunday. A special route with 26 buses will also be plying from Narol to Zundal Circle, via Geeta Mandir, Kalupur and RTO. Return trips will be available from 11pm to 1.30am. Similarly, there will be 54 special AMTS buses from various parts of the city.

Special bus services on offer
After spending Rs 450 crore, Bhopal BRTS to be removed
Ahmedabad Mirror | 7 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
7 months ago | |

The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department’s slogan “MP ajab hai, sab se gajab hai” has been much-talked about, but it is 100 per cent right in the context of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) as Rs 450 crore have been spent in making and maintaining it, and now the government may dismantle it.In a recent event in the state capital, the government representatives said that BRTS is a nuisance for people and that the decision to implement it was wrong and it should be removed.In Bhopal, a 24 km-long, BRTS was made in the middle of the road on which only city buses were run. When this corridor was made, it was said that it will provide easy public transport to more and more people.State Urban Development and Housing Minister Bhupendra Singh said, from time to time, demands for removal of the BRTS are being made and the government has also taken note of it.Instead of facilitating people, the BRTS is causing problems for them. Till the time it is not removed in Bhopal, it will be thrown open for the public for five hours.State Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang said that the BRTS corridor has been creating problems and it should be uprooted and thrown out.If what the two ministers say is followed, then around Rs 450 crore will have been wasted.State Congress President Abbas Haffex said that the ministers’ statements reveal that the government’s decision was short sighted.”It is wastage of taxpayers’ money. The government should fix the responsibility on the ministers and officials who made this project,” Abbas added..Construction of the BRTS started in 2009 and in 2011, it was constructed from Lalghati Chauraha to Veer Savarkar Setu to Board office Chauraha. In 2009, Rs 250 crore were spent on it while over Rs 200 crore have been spent on its maintenance.

After spending Rs 450 crore, Bhopal BRTS to be removed
AMC to monetise 180-km long optical fibre network soon
Ahmedabad Mirror | 8 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
8 months ago | |

As part of the Smart City Project, an AMC-operated company had installed a 180-km long Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) network at a cost ofRs 23 crore. The project was a part of the Rs 5,754 crore Smart City project under which 70 different proposals were made to make Ahmedabad a smart city. Floated back in 2016, the OFC project envisaged offering free high-speed internet at AMC offices and BRTS bus stands.However, after realising only 40-50% usage of the network and decreasing popularity of free internet service at BRTS bus stands, AMC has now decided to lease out50% of the network to private entities and generate crores of revenue to recover the cost of installation and maintenance. At present Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd, a subsidiary of AMC that operates BRTS buses, has been given the contract to maintain the network.An AMC official told Mirror, “AMC has laid OFC network which was much more than its requirements. At present, only 50% of the network is being used. It has been proposed to lease out half the network to private players and generate revenue. As AJL maintains the OFC network, it will come out with tenders shortly. First, EoI will be invited from private players. The process will start soon. It is difficult to project how much revenue will be generated from it.”There are those within the AMC who are opposed to the monetisation scheme. One such official told Mirror, “AMC or AJL are not internet service providers. When the 180-km network is leased out, the last mile connectivity needed by private players will pose huge problems. It will require laying down new cables. The proposal to lease out OFC is not as easy as it seems.”Citizens give lukewarm response to free wi-fi​​​​​​​The free wi-fi service was first provided at more than 150 BRTS bus stands in the city in 2016. At first it was a big hit among the citizens. Daily more than 15,000 people actively used it. The figure has drastically reduced to 4,000-5,000 per day. AMC had issued four lakh Janmitra cards out of which less than one lakh are active users today. AMC is making efforts to popularise free internet by launching publicity campaigns at BRTS bus stands. It is also being contemplated to offer free service to citizens for a fixed time even without Jamitra cards.

AMC to monetise 180-km long optical fibre network soon
Demonstration of a V2X System for the prioritization of Public Transportation Vehicles (Buses) on Bus Rapid Transport System corridor in Ahmedabad, INDIA
Nyoooz | 8 months ago | |
Nyoooz
8 months ago | |

AHMEDABAD, India, March 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In January 2022, Zero-Sum ITS Solutions India Private Limited, with approval from Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd, a special purpose vehicle of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in INDIA, conducted a demonstration experiment showcasing a public transportation vehicle priority system. The project was supported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, JAPAN and ZERO-SUM, LTD., JAPAN. The system functions over 600MHz band running on Japanese originated, internationally standardized V2X communication technology. This experiment demonstrated the use of a public transportation vehicle priority system in which a public transport vehicle such as a bus running on the Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) corridor communicates with traffic signals at the intersections through 600MHz band using V2X communication technology based on international standards that allows the bus to have priority passage at the intersections. This is the first demonstration of its kind in INDIA for a public vehicle on a public road such as BRTS corridor. The BRTS corridor in Ahmedabad by Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd with a route length of over 103 Kms is one of the largest in India. It has a fleet of 378 buses that cover 178 stations, completing over 3656 trips daily. It is rated as one of the best Mass Rapid Transport System in India and served as an ideal ground for the conduction of such an experiment. Goal of the experiment This demonstration experiment that uses the application of 600MHz band V2X communication technology, aims at enabling the higher adoption of public transport by reducing the stop time of the buses at signal intersections and improving their travel time and on-time performance. This will encourage the general public to adopt BRTS transportation, thereby reducing emissions and helping decongest the roads from traffic. This technology prompts traffic signals installed enroute the path of buses on the BRTS corridor to identify the approach of the buses. Upon the detection of an approaching bus, the traffic signal will identify the speed and distance of the approaching bus and thereafter map the traffic signal cycle to turn green by the time the bus reaches the intersection, thereby enabling the bus to get signal free passage at the intersections safely and reduce the travel time to its destination. The demonstration used 600MHz band frequency for the communication of information, as 600MHz band allows for real time communication that has high penetrability through buildings and natural obstructions and has less interference from other devices. Outline of experiment Several V2X communication devices that function on 600 MHz band were installed on buses that run on the BRTS corridor and at a busy traffic intersection on the BRTS corridor in Ahmedabad. When a bus that is equipped with a V2X communication device approaches the traffic intersection at which a V2X communication device is installed, the devices identify each other at over 400 meters. The V2X devices communicate with each other and the information that the bus is approaching the intersection along with parameters such as speed and position is immediately transmitted to the signaling system, enabling the system to modify and optimize the running signal cycle to turn green by the time the bus approaches within 100 to 150 meters of the intersection. This allows the priority passage of the bus over other modes of transportation at the intersection, enabling a reduction in travel time of the bus. Upon the bus, crossing the signal intersection, the system identifies the same and thereafter turns switches off the green corridor system for the BRTS lane, thereby ensuring a return to normal signal cycle for the non BRTS lanes. This system has helped demonstrate that a priority system for public transportation vehicles on public roads can be implemented. Location of experiment The experiment was conducted at the Panjrapool Traffic intersection on the BRTS corridor in the city of Ahmedabad which is the largest city in the western state of Gujarat in INDIA. This location was chosen as it is an important intersection on the BRTS corridor. Results of the experiment Upon completion of the demonstration, it was found that the emergency vehicle priority system that uses V2X communication technology running on 598-608 MHz that follow international standards set forth by ITU-R M.2084-1 and Japanese standard message set of ITS Connect TD-001, are very stable, as the communication between the V2X devices was confirmed. Furthermore, it was also observed that through the integration of the V2X system with the signaling system, the traffic signal in the direction of the approaching bus were successfully able to identify the bus and turn the traffic signal to green for the BRTS corridor, to provide priority passage to the bus at the intersection. Post the system implementation, it resulted in a reduction of 86.2% from the average waiting time of 33.1 seconds of the bus at the intersection without the system to the average 4.5 seconds with the system. And the bus travel time also reduced average 40%. The signal cycle was successfully optimized to allow a safe change of signal that not only provides priority passage to the BRTS corridor but also optimized the non BRTS lanes when there was no bus approaching the intersection. This allowed non-BRTS lanes to receive additional green cycle time which would have otherwise been wasted through allocation to the BRTS lane even when there was no bus passing through the intersection. The experiment helped demonstrate that the system does not have any adverse effect on non BRTS lanes or other vehicles on the road and in fact when implemented over a wider area, will help in reducing the waiting time for non BRTS lanes as well. The 598-608 MHz band used in the demonstration experiment was acquired under an experimental license from the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, INDIA. Future steps Upon completion of the trial period of the experiment, Zero-Sum will have a public demonstration of the system to Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. From the initial results gathered from the experiment, Mr. Vishal Khanama, (General Manager, Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd) said, "The initial results seen from the experiment seems very promising and we are proud to be associated with Zero-Sum to conduct such a trial for the first time in the country. Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd is looking for improving the on-time performance and time frequency of its buses so that we aim at creating customer delight and this is one such initiative that we believe can make the travel experience of the commuters better and refine the overall quality of life for the citizens of Ahmedabad. We are impressed that the system allows for both priority of BRTS buses and at the same time does not cause any interruption for general traffic. We will study the results in detail and review the feasibility of expanding the V2X system across a wider area of the BRTS corridor in Ahmedabad." Mr. Chikara KIKUCHI (Managing Director, Zero-Sum ITS Solutions India Private Limited) informed, "Last year, we had successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of the V2X system in creating automated green corridors for emergency vehicles. The results of the experiment conducted this year on the BRTS corridor in Ahmedabad also seem very encouraging. We will shortly look at creating a standardized solution that can be implemented by bus corporations across the country on their BRTS corridors and by municipalities for providing priority passage for their emergency vehicles." Explanation of terms Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Ahmedabad city, Gujarat State, INDIA The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration of the city of Ahmedabad which is the largest city in the state of Gujarat, INDIA. Ahmedabad city has a population of 5.6 million people and is the seventh largest city in INDIA. Several Japanese automotive companies in recent years have setup their manufacturing facilities around Ahmedabad City. Ahmedabad city is also one of the first cities selected under the Smart City program implemented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has been at the forefront in the implementation of smart technologies for the betterment of its citizens. Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has incorporated "Special Purpose Vehicle" called Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd in order to run and to operate BRTS buses. Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd is registered under Companies Act, 1956 and is 100% subsidiary of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. In order to provide faster, reliable, eco-friendly and advanced Public Transportation Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd is committed to operate and run BRTS services for the citizen of Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd is responsible to operate buses, to decide fare, to maintain bus lanes and to maintain bus shelters. V2X - Vehicle to Everything(X). V2X is the collective term for technologies and systems for exchanging information between automobiles and other automobiles, automobiles and roadside equipment & automobiles and pedestrians using wireless communication system. Intelligent Transportation Systems Standard (ITU-R M.2084-1) The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies. ITU-R (Radio) aims at creating the conditions for harmonized development and efficient operation of existing and new radiocommunication systems, taking due account of all parties concerned. ITU-R M.2084-1 are recommendations that identifies specific radio interface standards of vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications for Intelligent Transport System applications. WPC The WIRELESS PLANNING & COORDINATION (WPC) Wing of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications INDIA is the National Radio Regulatory Authority responsible for Frequency Spectrum Management, including licensing and caters for the needs of all wireless users (Government and Private) in the country. It exercises the statutory functions of the Central Government and issues licenses to establish, maintain and operate wireless stations. "Research for the overseas expansion of ITS technologies in JAPAN" "Research for the overseas expansion of ITS technologies in JAPAN", is a research project funded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Telecommunications, JAPAN. This project aims to undertake a study of the traffic accident information from several Asian countries and regions & thereafter implement demonstrations of the world standard based Japanese originated V2X technology to achieve improvements in the traffic safety conditions. This research will cover South Asia and South East Asia, including INDIA for the implementation of V2X experiments. About Zero-Sum ITS Solutions India Pvt. Ltd. Zero-Sum ITS Solutions India Private Limited introduced and operates a traffic congestion mitigation system in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat, India. ZERO-SUM, LTD., which is a parent company of Zero-Sum ITS Solutions India Private Limited, is in charge of the experiment component to be undertaken in INDIA for the project titled, "Research for the overseas expansion of ITS technologies in JAPAN" funded by Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, JAPAN. https://www.zero-sum-its.co.in Contact information Zero-Sum ITS Solutions India Private Limited Contact Person: Mallesh B.Phone Number: +91-80-41486275 (INDIA) Contact: https://zero-sum-its.co.in/contact-us/ Image: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1759696/System_Overview.jpg Image: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1759695/Panjrapool_Traffic_Intersection.jpg Image: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1759694/BRTS_Bus_corridor.jpg PWR PWRYour support to NYOOOZ will help us to continue create and publish news for and from smaller cities, which also need equal voice as much as citizens living in bigger cities have through mainstream media organizations.

Demonstration of a V2X System for the prioritization of Public Transportation Vehicles (Buses) on Bus Rapid Transport System corridor in Ahmedabad, INDIA
Cong protests removal of LOP
Times of India | 8 months ago | |
Times of India
8 months ago | |

Ahmedabad: The Congress party in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Friday protested the dropping of the leader of opposition from the board of Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd (AJL), the special purpose vehicle of the AMC that manages the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS). Traditionally, the AJL board was made up of the mayor, chairman of the AMC standing committee, leader of opposition (LOP) in the civic body and the deputy municipal commissioner (BRTS). A proposal to replace the the LOP with the deputy mayor on the board has been approved by the standing committee.Shehzad Pathan, the Congress councillor from Danilimda and leader of opposition, said that the BJP has broken the tradition of including the leader of opposition on the AJL board, so that there is no member of the opposition to oversee the functioning of BRTS. tnn

Cong protests removal of LOP
Naranpura residents protest dump in area
Ahmedabad Mirror | 9 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
9 months ago | |

Residents of Naranpura area around AEC crossroad on Tuesday morning blocked the 132-foot road and the BRTS track for close to 30 minutes leading to heavy traffic congestion. The protest took place over the AMC setting up a dumping site for demolition waste.The AMC had set up several dumping sites for disposal of construction waste and debris generated during demolition of old buildings in different parts of the city. Near the AEC crossroad in Naranpura, a dump site was set up on an open plot belonging to the AMC. Local residents have been objecting to this citing dust pollution and other issues.Talking to Mirror, local resident Hiraben Parikh said, “Dumping of construction waste has polluted the air here. Our homes also get filled with dust every day, and during night time the sound of the tempo is unbearable.”The residents have made several complaints to AMC in the past but no concrete action has been taken about the dumping site. On Tuesday morning, local residents gathered on the 132-foot road, blocking it as well as the BRTS bus route. Protestors shouted slogans against the AMC. Police officials rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the protestors but to no avail.Later, local BJP corporators which also includes deputy mayor Geetaben Patel visited the spot. Protesters were pacified only after assurance was given that the issue would be sorted out within 10 days.Geetaben Patel said, “A discussion on this issue has taken place in the AMC standing committee. The process of closing the dump site got blocked over some technical issues. The dumping site will be closed soon, and a gate and a wall will be built on the ground. Whatever debris has gathered, will be removed.”

Naranpura residents protest dump in area
  • Residents protest debris dumpyard

    • Times of India

    Ahmedabad: The official dump of building debris at AEC crossroads at Naranpura is becoming a major bone of contention for almost 70-odd societies that are located near the site. Peeved by the inaction of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, residents sat in protest and blocked the main thoroughfare during peak hours on Tuesday morning.The large plot of land located at the crossroads is being been used as a ‘transfer station’ for construction waste. The site stages the waste temporarily before it is finally shifted to the Pirana dumpyard for recycling and processing. Municipal authorities have assured the residents that the area will be cleared within 10 days. “Yet, the debris lies here for several days and contractors do not attend to it. Dust from the debris blows into our societies. There is noise pollution because trucks constantly unload large amounts of debris at the site, which sometimes continues late into the night,” says Pratik Soni who lives in a society near Ghanshyam Park in Naranpura. Residents claim that several requests made to deputy mayor Gita Patel, who is also a municipal councillor representing Naranpura and lives a few hundred metres away from the dumpsite, did not yield results. Harsh Shah, a resident of Nirman Park, says, “We have demanded that the dumping site be removed from near AEC Crossroads. They cannot continue to harass us like this. We had even petitioned the state human rights commission to intervene and pressurize the municipal corporation to remove the site.”

Dalit youth stabbed to death for not opening BRTS barricade
Ahmedabad Mirror | 9 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
9 months ago | |

A Dalit BRTS employee was hacked to death at CTM in the city on January 24 for standing his ground and not opening the barricade to the BRTS lane for a private vehicle. Private vehicles are not allowed in the BRTS lane.Jatin Parmar, 24, was stabbed to death after he refused to lift the barricade to the BRTS lane for a group of hooligans who came in a Verna car and a scooter. Police have detained the key accused in the case, Pintu Chauhan from Rajasthan and he has been sent for a Covid test.Two other accused in the case have tested positive for Covid and are under treatment. The investigations in the case have been handed to the SC/ST cell.ACP (SC/ST) cell Khusboo Kapadia, said the murder happened at around 9.30 pm near the BRT bus stand at CTM Road. “Four men in a Verna car came to the BRTS bus stand at CTM road and asked the two BRTS employees to open the automatic barricade,” she said.“Parmar and the other employee refused as private vehicles are not allowed in BRTS lanes. This angered the accused who beat them up and warned them of consequences. They returned later in a car and a scooter and caught hold of Parmar and stabbed him. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries,” said Kapadia.Sources said Parmar’s relatives refused to accept his body till the accused were arrested. The City Crime Branch, which probed the case, formed several teams and used technical and human surveillance to arrest the main accused from Rajasthan on Tuesday night, said sources.The accused will be interrogated once they test negative for Covid.

Dalit youth stabbed to death for not opening BRTS barricade
Traffic police plans to decongest 37 crossroads
Ahmedabad Mirror | 10 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
10 months ago | |

The city traffic police department has suggested drastic changes on roads near 37 busy junctions in the city to reduce traffic congestion after conducting a survey along with Central Road Research Institute (CRRI).Police have also drawn a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CEPT University to explore technology-based solutions to traffic issues.The traffic department stated this in the Gujarat High Court during a hearing on a petition filed by a city resident Mustak Kadri, through his advocate Amit Panchal, over traffic and civic problems. The department suggested changes at various spots, including at Iscon crossroad, end of the flyover near Rajpath Club, Income Tax bridge, Gujarat University area, Anjali crossroad, Nava Vadaj, Akhbarnagar circle etc.The study suggested extending the bridge wall of Iskcon flyover towards Rajpath Club side by putting up a barricade in order to avoid vision obstruction at merging of traffic coming from the bridge and the road below. It is also suggested to extend metal fences by 30-40 metres in order to prevent entry of pedestrians from the bridge end, and to provide a higher metal fence from Iscon bridge till Pakwan crossroad to prevent pedestrians from crossing the road by jumping over the metal fence. It also suggested putting up proper reflectors at the start of the median, which divides the service road and main road, in front of Jade Blue showroom.The study suggested solutions to vision obstruction issues by putting road safety barriers before the start of the Thaltej underpass up to some distance towards Pakwan crossroad and providing a gap to join the service road before the start of the underpass.In order to reduce speeding issues, the report has suggested to provide tabletop pedestrian crossing inside BRTS corridor for the traffic coming from Ramdevnagar crossroad to Iscon crossroad.For pedestrians, it suggested providing a staggered pedestrian crossing on each side of the BRTS stand in the area.It has been suggested to provide footpaths on both sides of thenorth end of Anjali flyover to Vasna crossroad and also put up a metal fence on the median to prevent pedestrians crossing over medians at many places.

Traffic police plans to decongest 37 crossroads
Covid-19: Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service, Bus Rapid Transit System loads halved from today
Times of India | 10 months ago | |
Times of India
10 months ago | |

Ahmedabad: As Covid-19 cases surge in the city, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has decided to run public transport buses at 50% of capacity from Wednesday. “We have decided to cut passenger capacity of AMTS and BRTS by 50% starting from Wednesday as one of the measures to control spread of the pandemic,” said Hitesh Barot, chairman of AMC’s standing committee.Two days before the lockdown was imposed on March 24, 2020, the civic authorities had closed public transport services. In September 2020, after when the Covid situation eased, AMTS, BRTS services resumed at 50% capacity. They were then halted on March 18, 2021, when the second wave of cases had peaked. Services were resumed at half capacity on June 7, 2021, when the number of cases reduced. In October 2021, authorities started operating public buses at full seating capacity. “Only passengers who have taken both doses of the Covid vaccine will be allowed to use our bus services,” Barot said.

Covid-19: Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service, Bus Rapid Transit System loads halved from today
AMCs no vax, no entry rule remains on paper
Times of India | 11 months ago | |
Times of India
11 months ago | |

Ahmedabad: While the number of Covid-19 cases in the city is spiking and fears of a third wave of cases gets stronger, a check how the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is implementing its old ‘no vaccine, no entry’ rule reveals utter carelessness on the civic body’s part. A TOI team visited the Usmanpura Riverfront Park, Flower Garden and Law Garden on Wednesday, and found that certificates were not asked for even at access-controlled public places. No certificates were sought for use of the BRTS or AMTS as well. Ironically, at a mall in Vastrapur a long queue was seen at the entrance and security guards were seen diligently checking certificates.In September, the AMC had announced that only those who had at least one vaccine dose would be able to avail of various municipal services. The civic body said it would deny entry at AMC facilities such as public gardens, swimming pools, civc centres and also at the AMTS and BRTS, to those who cannot furnish vaccine certificates. From November 12, the civic body made the rule stricter, making both doses mandatory for access.

AMCs no vax, no entry rule remains on paper
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