India's Number one BRTS Bus Service Hubli to Dharwad Karnataka
Channel: Yathra Visheshangal
Date: 07/03/2019

HUBLI-DHARWAD BUS RAPID TRANSIT CORRIDOR – SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT CORRIDOR

A proposed BRTS project is being built to serve the twin cities of Hubli and Dharwad, located in the North-Western part of Karnataka state in India. Hubli is known as Commercial centre and business hub of the region and Dharwad is an Administrative seat of District and Educational hub of the region.

Hubli-Dharwad BRTS Company Limited (HDBRTSCO) is implementing the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS). BRT Corridor, with a length of 22.25 km, originates from Hubli CBT and ends at Dharwad CBT. However, it is now planned to extend the corridor to Agricultural University, Dharwad.

Funding

The Company has an authorized share capital of INR 200 million, out of which 70% is the share of Government of Karnataka and the remaining 30% is shared by Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), North-Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and Hubli-Dharwad Urban Development Authority (HDUDA).

The project is guided and support by Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), Government of Karnataka (GoK) and World Bank. The construction is funded by World Bank and the Government of Karnataka. Estimated cost of the project is estimated as INR 6.9 billion (US$ 115 million). The project is funded under Sustainable Urban Transport Project (SUTP). World Bank has granted a loan of US$ 55 million.

The project is delayed owing to land acquisition. Currently, HDBRTS has acquired around 98% of land required for construction of BRTS lanes and MV lanes.

Corridor Design

The BRTS corridor is designed with central bus lanes, so as to minimize interference of traffic plying on the mixed traffic lanes. BRTS (trunk) corridor will operate as a “closed system” whereas the feeder and city bus services will operate in the “open system”. BRT lane is restricted for BRT buses and emergency response vehicles. The width of the corridor will vary from 44.0 meters to 24.5 meters. The width of the road which includes the BRT corridor, mixed traffic lanes, foot paths etc. is as follows:

·         Hosur circle, Hubli to Naveen Hotel: 35 meters

·         Naveen Hotel to Gandhinagar cross: 44 meters

·         Gandhinagar cross to Jubliee circle: 35 meters

The trunk corridor includes segregated bus ways, controlled bus stations, physical and fare integration with BRT feeder, off-board ticketing through smart cards and paper tickets, and high quality buses (standard as well as articulated). The corridor is designed for operating regular and express services. The BRT corridor consists of 2 lanes for BRTS buses on either side of the median bus station facilitating overtaking lanes for express services.

Key Infrastructure

Bus Station

Bus stations are of 2-bay and 3-bay configuration to support standard and articulated bus docking. The tickets shall be issued at stations and the genuine commuters with valid ticket/ smart card can only access in to the platform. Automatic Sliding Doors will be installed at bus stations for safe access between station and buses.

Depot and Terminal

As part of the project, HDBRTS is constructing two new depots – one in Hubli and one in Dharward. The land for the depot space is provided by NWKRTC and the construction work is financed by HDBRTS. The depot will be used for the parking and maintenance of the buses. The depot will be equipped with modern facilities like Automatic Washing Plant, Automated Oil Dispensing System and Rain Water Harvesting, etc.

Divisional Workshop

HDBRTS is also constructing One Divisional Workshop to carryout heavy maintenance work and overhauling of the buses at Hubli. Old NWKRTC Divisional Workshop is being renovated for the same.

Bus Operation

The North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) is the state run bus service in Karnataka. Currently, NWKRTC is operating city bus service and inter-cities service. As per the current plan, HDBRTS will be the owners of the assets and the bus operation will be carried out by NWKRTC.  HDBRTS and NWKRTC together will run the operations of BRT. NWKRTC will continue to independently operate the feeder services and city bus services.

As per the current plan, HDBRTS has placed an order for the procurement of the buses for BRT Corridor Operation.


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