A serious collision between a Chigari BRTS bus and a private car on Sunday in Hubballi has sharply refocused public attention on the perennial issue of commuter safety within the city's Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridor. The incident underscores a dangerous and persistent problem: the unchecked movement of private vehicles in lanes exclusively reserved for buses, raising alarm over enforcement failures and passenger security.
Systemic Failures and Driver Apprehensions
Commuters and bus drivers have identified a trifecta of problems enabling this chaos: the absence of security guards, missing boom barriers, and an ineffective penalty system. This regulatory vacuum has left the air-conditioned Chigari buses particularly vulnerable to accidents. Drivers express deep fear, noting that the AC construction of their buses heightens the risk of sparks or fire during a collision.
"We are constantly at risk," shared a BRTS driver. "Apart from government vehicles, numerous private cars freely enter our lane. We are often forced to yield to these encroachers, compromising our schedule and safety."
A History of Withdrawn Measures and Passing the Buck
The situation wasn't always this dire. Between 2018 and 2023, the HD BRTS had deployed marshals at all major junctions to physically prevent unauthorized entries. However, this measure was scrapped following a government order, leading to a jurisdictional grey area. Confusion reigns over who is now responsible for policing the corridor. While BRTS officials state operations were transferred to the NWKRTC, the NWKRTC maintains its mandate is strictly limited to bus operations, not lane enforcement.
Clarifying the chain of command, Raveesha CR, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic), asserted that the HD BRTS holds the responsibility for deploying security at all entry and exit points of the dedicated lane.
Official Response and Public Outcry
Responding to the criticism, HD BRTS PRO Manjunath Jadenavar explained that the marshals were initially a temporary awareness campaign. "The government later instructed us to withdraw them, stating that citizens were sufficiently aware of the lane restrictions," he said. He highlighted that HD BRTS has installed 20 Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras along the corridor. Footage of violations is shared with traffic police, who, according to Jadenavar, are issuing challans to offenders.
Meanwhile, the issue has ignited a fierce debate on social media platforms like Facebook. Members of the HubliCity-eGroup questioned the efficiency of dedicating an entire lane while general traffic suffers. "The lane often seems reserved for VIPs. BRT signals turn green even with no bus in sight. With better planning and AI, this mess could be avoided," commented one user, reflecting a sentiment for smarter traffic management.
The current grim status of the BRTS lane includes:
- No security or police personnel to prevent private vehicle entry.
- 20 ANPR cameras are active, but their deterrent effect is questionable.
- Violators are reportedly not being fined consistently.
- Absence of streetlights at multiple locations.
- Boom barriers have been stolen by thieves.
This combination of factors creates a hazardous environment where accidents, like Sunday's collision, are a constant threat, demanding urgent and concrete action from authorities.
