After accidents, activists want BRTS to reduce speed

Hubballi: Hubballi Dharwad Bus Rapid Transit System (HDBRTS) received negative publicity after four passengers were injured in an accident on Unkal flyover last week. HDBRTS is at the receiving end as the public are blaming BRTS bus drivers for driving negligently in dedicated corridors as well as near junctions.
BRTS started the trial run of its service on October 2 last year but it is yet to be officially inaugurated.The recent accidents involving BRTS buses has raised safety concerns among passengers.
On February 18, passengers on two BRTS buses escaped unhurt when a BRTS bus driver lost control over the vehicle and rammed into a road divider while allegedly trying to overtake another BRTS bus near Lakkamanahalli.
On December 11 last year, two HDBRTS buses collided with a car and a truck in two separate incidents. One of the buses was going towards Dharwad and met with an accident near Bhairidevarkoppa. Another bus collided with a truck near Navanagar.
One HDBRTS security guard was injured when two auto-rickshaws hit him when he tried stopping them from going on the dedicated BRTS corridor.
Residents say accidents take place on the BRTS corridor regularly but they don’t come to the notice of authorities or a majority of people.
Civic activist Dr M C Sindhur said, “BRTS buses pass through junctions without a pause, causing a threat to the lives of the public who try to cross the corridor near the U-turn provided at junctions. The buses should move slowly at junctions as a majority of vehicle owners and pedestrians cross the junctions without noticing the buses.”
People jumping over railings and entering the BRTS corridor is said to be another reason for accidents. Activists say HDBRTS officials must look into the matter and should increase the height of the railing and reduce the speed of buses at junctions. They must also raise awareness among the public to follow traffic signals at junctions, they add.
HDBRTS managing director Rajendra Cholan told TOI that he came to know about the problems faced by people and added that they were being thoroughly examined. “BRTS officials have asked drivers not to exceed the speed beyond 60kmph. In the meantime, the corridor will have a boom barricade which prevents the entry of unauthorized vehicles into the dedicated line. This apart speed breakers and mid blocks will be installed at junctions to facilitate people to cross the corridor,” he said.