The Punjab Government has formally approved the removal of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridor in Amritsar, marking the end of a Rs 600-crore project that failed to provide lasting public transport solutions. Amritsar West MLA Jasbir Singh Sandhu announced the decision, confirming that the dedicated bus corridor will be dismantled, effectively closing the Metro Bus project.
Project Shutdown and Idle Fleet
The Metro Bus service, which began operations in 2016 under the then SAD-BJP government, has been suspended since July 2023. Its entire fleet of 92 buses now lies idle at the Verka Bypass depot, gradually deteriorating into scrap. The service initially received a positive response from commuters but was later neglected under subsequent administrations.
The BRTS is not the first failed public transport initiative in Amritsar. The City Bus Service, launched in 2015, also ceased operations within months, leaving around 60 buses unused. This pattern highlights systemic issues in the city's public transport planning.
Funding and Operational Challenges
A major factor in the project's failure was the lack of a permanent funding mechanism. Operations and staffing were managed through private companies, leading to frequent disputes with the government. The service was suspended multiple times before finally shutting down in July 2023 when the operating company's contract expired.
The closure has had severe social and economic impacts. Nearly 1,000 employees lost their jobs, and over 40,000 daily commuters—mainly students and office-goers—were left without an affordable and reliable mode of transport.
Environmental and Infrastructure Costs
The BRTS project also exacted a heavy environmental toll. Hundreds of centuries-old trees along Mall Road and GT Road were cut down to build the corridor. Over the past year, authorities had already begun removing ticket counters and other equipment from BRTS stations, signaling little hope for revival.
MLA Jasbir Singh Sandhu described the approval to remove the corridor as a major achievement, claiming it will help reduce traffic congestion. However, the municipal corporation has only passed a resolution to dismantle the corridor so far. The cost of removing the infrastructure has not been disclosed.
Criticism and Future Concerns
Social activist Pawan Sharma called the BRTS failure a "collective failure" of successive governments and the administration. He stated that public money was wasted on a project that failed to deliver lasting benefits. Sharma questioned the decision to remove the corridor without public consultation and urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to explain the government's stance. He also expressed concerns about the planned introduction of 100 electric buses under a Central Government scheme, warning, "We fear that the e-bus service could meet the same fate if the government does not fix accountability of officials concerned and political leaders."
