States must focus more on infrastructure: Reddy

Pune, Dec 3 (UNI) States must focus more on the development of infrastructure rather than depending on the Centre in view of rapid urbanisation, Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy today said.

He was speaking after flagging off the country's first Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) here today the minister, who has sanctioned Rs 1,100 crore for the project, pointed out that the Union government took a decision to spend Rs 50,000 crore on the development of infrastructure by prioritising roads, water and drainages in major cities with equal share of state governments and municipalities in the next year considering that 50 per cent of the population will be living in cities in the next 22 years.

''Infrastructure is a state subject as per the Constitution but we are trying our best to meet projected needs under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM),'' he said.

Talking to reporters during the inaugural run, the minister to a query said that the Centre will not provide buses for Bus Rapid transit system (BRTS) projects but it was for the State government to do the needful.

''We are looking into developing Pune with the Commonwealth Youth Games round the corner as well as the influx of IT companies and automobile factories,'' he said.

Pune is the first city to get the BRTS project to meet the growing needs of a mass rapid transport system. ''BRTS project will be low cost and provide the comforts of the metro rail,'' Pune Municipal Commissioner Nitin Kareer said.

The BRTS, in the first phase, will include 50 km at a cost of Rs 530 crore. A total of 12 roads in the city have been identified for it and additionally an equal amount will be spent on another 50 km in the second phase, Kareer said. The Commissioner pointed out that metro's, sky bus projects cost anywhere between Rs 50 to Rs 250 crore per km, while the BRTS cost Rs 10 crore per km, a low cost public utility service that had separate cycle tracks, vehicles and also footpaths. A 13 km run will be over in less than 30 minutes at 30 km per hour speed and bus stops will be at a distance of 500 metres, he said.

This will ensure smoother traffic with reduced levels of pollution, he added.

In the first run, many citizens rushed to try the air conditioned Volvo buses. Specially made bus stops with drinking water amenities have been proposed.

Apart from Pune, BRTS projects have been sanctioned in Indore and Ahemdabad.

City MP Suresh Kalmadi and Congress MLA Ramesh Bagave also spoke on the occasion.

UNI SP/DWN KU MS VC2140