The Local Government, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister, Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu today launched full throttle the much awaited BRTS project (Bus Rapid Transit System). This includes 93 AC buses and world level metro bus terminal on the 2 routes. The project worth Rs. 545 crore is the result of the collaboration of Punjab and Union Government and is currently being run in 12 cities across the country namely Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Surat, Pune, Rajkot, Vijaywada, Indore, Bhubneshwar, Raipur, Vishakhapatnam, Bhopal and Hubli. The minister also announced that these buses would provide free travel facility for 3 months to the people. After this, the school children would be provided this facility free of cost, College students would get 66 percent exemption, Senior Citizens and Divyang people would be eligible for 50 percent concession in travel. The people would be able to travel without limit in 1 day by getting a card made for mere Rs. 25.Mr. Sidhu while interacting with the mediapersons on the occasion of launching the project, said that the aim of the present government is not to shut down the already running projects owing to political ill will but the aim is to execute these to their logical end to ensure that the hard earned money of the tax payer is not wasted.
He also said that it was the desire of the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to see this significant project coming to fruition.He further announced that the 31 KM route of the project including India Gate to Verka, Verka to Amritsar Entry Gate and from India Gate to Amritsar Entry Gate has been made fully operational with a fleet of 97 buses and the unique feature would be that the bus service would be available for every route after every 4 minutes. The minister further added that the screens installed on the 47 bus stands en route would display the arrival of buses. Apart from this, every bus would have cameras, GPS, Automatic Doors, AC facilities which is absolutely necessary for a safe journey.Mr. Sidhu also launched an app on the occasion for bus tickets and said that each traveler making the journey through smart cards would get 20 percent concession. He also elaborated that this is the first phase of these buses and furthermore, 5 new bridges are coming up in the city at a cost of Rs. 150 crore.Among others on the occasion included Cabinet Minister O.P. Soni, Lok Sabha MP Mr. Gurjit Singh Aujla, Mayor Mr. Karamjit Singh Rintu, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, Commissioner of Police Mr. S. Srivastav, Commissioner Municipal Corporation Amritsar Mrs. Sonali Giri, MLAs Mr. Raj Kumar Verka and Mr. Sunil Dutti, MD PIDB Mr. V.N. Zade, SDM Mr. Vikas Heera, GM Mr. R.S. Bal, CEO Mr. Inderjit Singh Chawla and XEN Mr. Jasbir Singh Sodhi.