India's newest transit system was shut down today - its second day of service. The Pune Municipal Transport halted all services in the city after a 20-year-old was crushed to death by a mini bus. Fearing public backlash, the PMT shut down the entire system for the day.
PMT's manager of operations Shivraj Rane assured the public that "operations of BRTS buses would resume tomorrow morning." Rane placed blame for the accident on the public for not also being safety-oriented, stating “the PMT and PMC (city hall) are trying to eliminate systemic problems that have come to [our attention], but it is high time the public also followed traffic discipline.”
Local residents were "dissatisfied" with the safety precautions the PMT have put in place and major traffic problems are being blamed on continuing construction work on the incomplete transit lines. One onlooker reported that the heavier-than-usual traffic "rarely paid heed to traffic wardens and kept entering the dedicated lane." A local newspaper vendor explained that "this system has made the road even more accident-prone. Pedestrians are bound to face difficulties in crossing the road due to the rapid movement of buses in the central lanes."
The heated debate over BRTS is not going to cool down anytime soon. This evening the Bharatiya Janata Party staged demonstrations against the hasty manner in which BRTS's first line was inaugurated. A major portion of the 13-km (8-mi.) BRTS corridor is still not completed.
They were doing so well on their first day, but, judging by my analysis in yesterday's article, safety has been the most overlooked element of the BRTS. What good are the clean floors and illuminated signs if the outside of the bus is dented and spattered with blood? Instead of months or years, the PMT is facing its first challenge right off the bat. Such is the price for opening early amidst political pressure. Right now showing the public they can handle this situation responsibly and in a timely matter should be the PMT's number one priorities. Without public support through this insanity, the BRTS doesn't stand a chance of succeeding.
Express (India) News Service
