Ahmedabad Bus Rapid Transit System

Janmarg, also known as Ahmedabad BRTS, is a bus rapid transit system in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. It is operated by Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited, a subsidiary of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and others. It is designed by CEPT University.[10][11] It was inaugurated in October 2009. The network expanded to 89 kilometres (55 mi) by December 2017 and 160 km by March 2023; with daily ridership of 3,49,000 passengers.[12] BRTS won several nation and international awards for design, implementation and operation. It was rated Silver on BRT Standard in 2013.

Janmarg
Bus, station and dedicated corridor near Shivranjani Cross Roads
Bus, station and dedicated corridor near Shivranjani Cross Roads
Overview
OwnerAMC, AUDA, Government of Gujarat
LocaleAhmedabad, Gujarat, India
Transit typeBus rapid transit
Number of lines18 (14 bi-directional, 2 circular, 2 shuttle) (February 2023)
Number of stations162 (Stations + cabins) [1][2][3]
Daily ridership2,00,000 - 2,20,000 (March 2023) [4][5][6][7]
Chief executiveKirit Parmar (Director), Mayor of Ahmedabad

M. Thennarasan (Chairman), Municipal Commissioner of AMC
HeadquartersFirst Floor, Dr. Ramanbhai Patel Bhavan, West Zone Office, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad
WebsiteJanmarg BRTS, Ahmedabad BRTS
Operation
Began operation14 October 2009
Operator(s)Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited (AJL)
Number of vehiclesTotal 380 buses, including 150 Electric Buses.[8][9]
Technical
System length160 kilometres (99 mi) (with 89 kilometres (55 mi) dedicated corridor)[7]

History

Ahmedabad has a population of more than 6.3 million and an extended population of 7.2 million. It is the sixth largest city and seventh largest metropolitan area of India. The bus rapid transport system was created to serve a growing population.

In 2005, feasibility study reports were prepared by the state project development agency, Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board, and later by CEPT University. The study was headed by H. M. Shivanand Swamy; an economist, urban planner and associate director of CEPT. The project was sanctioned by the Ministry of Urban Development under JNNURM program in 2005.[11][13]

Technical procedures were started in 2006.[13] CEPT designed the system after detailed analysis.[11][14] Based on an analysis of the socio-economic factors, travel demand patterns, road network characteristics, the metro plan and the existing Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) route network, a network of roads covering about 155 kilometres in length was identified for developing the BRTS.[11]

The system is named Janmarg, which means the people's way in Gujarati.[15] Trial running started in July 2009. The first corridor connecting Pirana to RTO Junction was opened to public on 14 October 2009 by then the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi.[11][16][17] The second half of the first phase of the BRTS was inaugurated on 25 December 2009. It was extended to Kankaria Lake later, to cater to the eastern part of the city,[18][19] and from Shivranjani to Iskcon Temple on 15 September 2012.[20] On 28 September 2012, it expanded from Soni ni Chali to Odhav.[21] The network expanded to 89 km by December 2015 at the total cost of ₹ 1200 crore.[22][23] The third phase of the project includes the Shivranjani-APMC, Jashodanagar-Hathijan, Sola-Science City, Narol-Aslali and Akhbarnagar-Gota Crossroads stretches. It was approved in 2013 and is under construction.[24] Dedicated buses for women were introduced in January 2016.[25]

In future, BRTS will be integrated with the Ahmedabad Metro, which is under construction.[11] The Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, also under construction, will be accessible through this multimodal mix of rapid transport systems.[11]

Several cities are constructing and planning BRTS based on the model of Ahmedabad such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Amritsar and Bhubaneswar.[11][26]

Routes
Transit Map (June 2020). Note: Colors are for indicative purpose only. BRTS does not use any color coding for routes.

As of March 2023, following are the currently operational routes; 14 in both directions, 2 Shuttles (For Airport) and two in circular direction; serving 162 BRTS stations and cabins at extended routes.[27]

Transit routes (March 2023)
Route No. Route details
1 Ghuma Gam ↔ Maninagar (Via Anjali)
2 Bhadaj Circle ↔ Odhav Ring Road (via Delhi Darwaja)
3 RTO ↔ Maninagar (via Anjali)
4 LD College of Engineering ↔ Amba Township (Trimandir)
5 Vasna ↔ Dahegam Circle (SP Ring Road) (via Narol, Naroda)
6 Narol ↔ Naroda Gam
7 DCIS Circle ↔ Narol (via Kalupur)
8 ISKCON Cross Roads ↔ Naroda (via LD, Kalupur)
9 Vasantnagar Township (Gota) ↔ Maninagar (Via LD, Geeta Mandir)
11 LD College of Engineering ↔ Odhav Ring Road
12 RTO ↔ CTM Cross Roads
14 Sarkhej Sanand Cross Road ↔ Naroda (Via Anjali, Kalupur)
15 Iskcon ↔ Airport (Via Sola Cross Road, RTO, Camp Hanuman)
16 Nehru Nagar ↔ Sarkhej Sanand Cross Road (Via Iskcon)
17 Nehru Nagar ↔ South Bopal
18 Maninagar ↔ Airport (Via Geeta Mandir, Kalupur, Camp Hanuman)
101 RTO → RTO (Clockwise, via Kalupur → Geeta Mandir → Anjali)
201 RTO → RTO (Anticlockwise, via Anjali → Geeta Mandir → Kalupur)

Operation

Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited (AJL), the parent company which governs BRTS operations in Ahmedabad, was constituted as a Special Purpose Vehicle by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority and Government of Gujarat. AJL introduced Automated fare collection system through smart cards for commuters.[11]

It has a mixed fleet of air conditioned and non-air conditioned buses. It has 220 Euro III and Euro IV-compliant diesel buses.[28] Parts for the buses are provided by Tata Motors. These buses are built by Chartered Speed locally according to specifications.

The system runs on Integrated Transportation Management System (IMTS) which includes Advanced Vehicle Tracking System (AVLS), Fleet Management System (FMS), Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), Passenger Information System (PIS), Passenger announcement (PA), and Vehicle Scheduling and Dispatching (VSD). These technologies are provided by the consortium of Vayam Technologies and GMV Innovating Solutions since 2010. As a part of Intelligent Transit Management System (ITMS), an app based and QR code powered ticketing system was introduced in June 2017.[29]

Recognition

Ahmedabad BRTS was rated Silver on BRT Standard in 2013. It was showcased at 2012 United Nations Climate Change Conference as a 'lighthouse project' as part of the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Momentum for Change Initiative.[15][30]

Awards
  • National Award for "Award for Excellence in the category of Best IMTS Project – 2011" from Government of India[10]
  • International Award for "Sustainable Transport Award – 2010" at Washington DC, United States.[10][31][32]
  • National Award for "Best Mass Transit Rapid System Project - 2009" from Government of India.[10][33]
  • International Award for "Outstanding Innovations in Public Transportation – 2010" from UITP, Germany[10]
  • National Award for "Best Innovation Project Towards Improvement in Urban Mobility in the City of Ahmedabad through New Technological Innovations in Janmarg BRTS – 2010" from Government of India.[10]
  • International Award for Design – "Daring Ambition Award and Knowledge and Research Award – 2011" at 59th UITP World Congress, Dubai.[10]
  • UITP India Political Commitment Award at 60th UITP World Congress, Geneva on 27 May 2013[10]
  • Markenomy Awards 2013 for " Best Urban Infra Mass Transport Project" from Falcom Media at Mumbai[10]

Criticism

BRTS failed to increase the number of public transport users in Ahmedabad. Before launch of BRTS, in 2009, the number of public transport users (users of AMTS) was 8 to 8.5 lakh. After six years of operation, in January 2016, it is found that the number of public transport users (combined users of BRTS and AMTS) dropped to 7.5 lakh. During the same period, the number of private vehicles in the city increased by 54%, up from 18.2 lakh to 25.10 lakh. Only 18% of the total population of the city uses public transport.[12][22][23]

In 2011, 42 km network of BRTS had daily average passenger traffic of 1.2 lakh which increased only marginally to 1.32 lakh in 2016 despite expansion of network to 89 km.[22]

In 2015, Ahmedabad Jammarg Limited spent ₹ 98 crore on operation incurring loss of ₹ 35 crore. In 2015, there are 213 buses with AJL. 80% of them are air conditioned diesel buses which has average of 1.5 km per litre of diesel resulting in increase in air pollution.[34] Air conditioned buses can not be run on CNG and they are meant to attract more passengers.[22][35] Dedicated BRTS corridors causes traffic jams at several places especially in Old Ahmedabad.[36][37][38][39] As of June 2017, 186 out of 250 Buses are air conditioned.[40] It incurred loss of ₹265 crore (US$33 million) in period of 2019 to 2021.[41]

Accidents

Between 2016 and 2019, there were 22 fatal BRTS accidents.[42] On 22 November 2019, two brothers, Nayan Ram and Jayesh Ram were crushed to death by a BRTS incident at Panjarapol cross road, Ambawadi.[43][44]

  • GMDC Station
    GMDC Station
  • GMDC Station Interior
    GMDC Station Interior
  • Bus
    Bus
  • Bus at station
    Bus at station

See also

References
  1. "AMTS to use BRTS lane on two stretches, CM to dedicate new BRTS corridors, routes, buses, bus-stations tomorrow". 24 December 2014.
  2. "Modi opens two new BRTS routes". DeshGujarat. Ahmedabad. DeshGujarat.Com. 25 December 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  3. "Janmarg Routes". CEPT. Janmarg Ltd.-AMC. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  4. "About Janmarg".
  5. Shaikh, Sarfaraz (31 March 2018). "The missing last-mile link". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  6. "BRTS: Ahmedabad bus users down 25% in a decade! | Ahmedabad News - Times of India". The Times of India. 6 July 2018.
  7. "BRT traffic stagnant despite bigger network, fleet | Ahmedabad News - Times of India". The Times of India. 10 July 2018.
  8. Offensive, Marking Them (21 July 2016). "Anger spills over to streets in Ahmedabad". Ahmedabad Mirror. Archived from the original on 25 September 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  9. "Bus services opting for diesel over cleaner CNG". The Times of India. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  10. "About-Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd". Ahmedabad BRTS. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  11. "Ahmedabad BRTS:Urban Transport Initiatives in India: Best Practices in PPP" (PDF). National Institute of Urban Affairs. 2010. pp. 18–48. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  12. "City's BRTS didn't enhance public transport usage". The Times of India. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  13. "Ahmedabad kicks off 500-cr integrated BRTS". One India News. 4 May 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  14. "Ahmedabad BRTS is the best, says expert". Ahmedabad Mirror. Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. 1 August 2009. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  15. "Ahmedabad, Bus Rapid Transit system, Janmarg". United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  16. "Modi launches BRT, attack on critics". The Indian Express.
  17. Manish, Kumar (16 October 2009). "Day 1: Amdavadis give thumbs up to BRTS". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011.
  18. Manish, Kumar (27 December 2009). "BRTS bridges city's east-west divide". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011.
  19. Dutta, Vishal (19 May 2013). "BRTS: Lessons Delhi can learn from Ahmedabad's transport system". The Economic Times. p. 1. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  20. "Shivranjani-Iskcon BRTS stretch in Ahmedabad operational, finally! – Ahmedabad – DNA". Dnaindia.com. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  21. "New BRTS stretch gets operational". globalgujaratnews.com. 28 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  22. John, Paul (1 January 2016). "In era of BRTS, users of public transport shrink". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
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  24. Yagnik, Bharat (20 September 2013). "Budget cleared for 3rd phase of Ahmedabad's BRTS project". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  25. India (7 January 2016). "Women BRTS buses on five routes from Jan 8". The Indian Express. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  26. "Amritsar to copy Ahmedabad BRTS model". 14 November 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2023 – via The Economic Times - The Times of India.
  27. "::: Ahmedabad BRTS". Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  28. John, Paul (6 January 2016). "Clean fuel BRTS dream stolen by toxic diesel". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  29. Patel, Lakshmi (3 December 2016). "BRTS' APPealing plan for hassle-free ride". Ahmedabad Mirror. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  30. Goswami, Urmi (15 November 2012). "UN Climate Change Negotiations 2012: Ahmedabad's Bus Rapid Transit System to be showcased by United Nations". The Economic Times. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  31. "Ahmedabad, India Wins 2010 Sustainable Transport Award". PRN Newswire. 10 January 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  32. "Developed Ahmedabad impresses World Bank". Daily News and Analysis. Ahmedabad. DNA. 21 January 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  33. "Ahmedabad Janmarg BRTS brings honour to Gujarat". Daily News and Analysis. Ahmedabad. DNA. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  34. John, Paul (6 January 2016). "Clean fuel BRTS dream stolen by toxic diesel". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  35. John, Paul (4 January 2016). "Citizens choke in BRTS lanes". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  36. Dave, Ketan (8 April 2016). "People of Ahmedabad can vandalize BRTS anytime, says IB report". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  37. Rajput, Vipul (4 April 2015). "BRTS gridlocks Walled City roads". Ahmedabad Mirror. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  38. John, Paul (3 January 2016). "City rivals larger Delhi in BRTS jams". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  39. Tewari, Ankur (30 September 2014). "Chinese expert finds flaws in Ahmedabad BRTS". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  40. "Ahmedabad News – Latest & Br".
  41. "બી.આર.ટી.એસ.બસ સર્વિસ સફેદ હાથી સમાન પુરવાર ત્રણ વર્ષમાં ૨૬૫ કરોડની જંગી ખોટ". www.gujaratsamachar.com. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
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  43. "Ahmedabad: Two brothers crushed to death by BRTS bus". The Times of India. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  44. "2 Brothers Dead After Bus Runs Over Two-Wheeler In Ahmedabad". NDTV.com. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
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