PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is apparently not sincere in implementing the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in Pune as the PMC administration allocated funds for new BRTS routes to other development works in the city. 

Pune was the first to introduce BRTS in the country. The pilot BRTS on Swargate-Katraj corridor was inaugurated by then Union UD minister R Jaipal Reddy on December 3, 2006. 

The ambitious plan for BRTS in Pune was for a network of 118 km.  However, even 12 years after the pilot corridor was opened in 2006, there has been little progress in implementation of the next phase of BRTS in Pune. 

Now, the administration has decided to use funds allocated for BRTS expansion for other works. 

On Monday, at the PMC General Body passed a proposal tabled by the civic administration to divert Rs 20.62 crore for development works. 

As mentioned in the proposal, the Rs 20.62 crore was meant for Shimla Office Chowk to Rajiv Gandhi bridge (Aundh area), Ganeshkhind Road widening and BRTS route development, Sancheti Hospital to CoEP Patil Estate BRTS, Patil Estate to Harish Bridge BRT route and other road related works. However, the funds were diverted to 12 development works in 11 merged villages and for land acquisition for roads in Balewadi. 

PMC Road Department Additional City Engineer  Aniruddha Pawaskar said, “We are bound to make expansion of BRTS in the city as per our plan. Right now, we have floated tenders for BRTS expansion. Allocated funds will be unutilised if we don’t use till March 2020. Therefore, We diverted amount to other important development works.”