Hubballi: Officials of Hubballi-Dharwad Bus Rapid Transit System (H-DBRTS) have assured that the bus service between the twin cities will begin from November 2017.
Speaking at an awareness programme organised by the officials of H-DBRTS in Hubballi BRTS DGM (Info), Basavaraj Keri informed that construction of bus stations and others would be completed by October this year and the bus service will commence from November.
Litigations in courts, shifting of utilities and delay in designs have slackened the pace of the BRTS works. However, public did express their anguish over the negligent attitude of the department concerned resulting in the slow pace of hazards.
The meeting was informed that around 62 percent of the project work had been completed and 60 percent of the payment had already been made. An assurance was also given that the remaining work would be completed within the stipulated time.
BRTS Manager Kotraiyya Kolmate said H-DBRTS had faced 180 cases, which included 77 writ petitions, demands for minimising road widening. So far the government had paid Rs. 303 Crore as compensation for land acquisition, he added.
As the meeting began, the officials had to face volley of questions by public. At some point of time, heated arguments were also witnessed, over the delay in work. Spending high amounts on bus shelters, failure to create alternative roads, missing deadlines, escalation of project cost, absence of public representatives in the meeting among other issues were questioned.
The citizens demanded an increase in the green cover of the region after nearly 3,900 trees were uprooted for the project. The officials said that they had set a target of planting 27,510 saplings, of which 17,227 had survived so far.
