Pune: The slow process of dismantling the BRTS structures on Pune-Solapur highway has made some stretches dangerous for motorists, especially in places where the old dividers have still not been removed. The work has been going on for a year now. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has removed the bus stops located in the middle of the dedicated BRTS stretch.
However, the dividers along the BRTS route have not been uniformly removed, making the stretch unsafe to drive, especially at night. PMC also installs barricades at night while removing the BRTS setup, decreasing the width of the carriageway. This often leads to traffic congestions.
TOI had reported on multiple occasions that the BRTS stretch along the Pune-Solapur highway had become dangerous due to improper markings on zebra crossings, wrong signalling system, unsafe conditions for pedestrians, and "accident-prone" turning spots. Following the coverage and public outcry, PMC decided to remove the entire BRTS stretch. Pruthvi Prasad Shelke, a regular commuter on the road, said, "Earlier, a major chunk of the road was occupied by the BRTS route.
After spending so much money on it, PMC has removed the BRTS system but not entirely. PMC has been removing the system in phases for over a year now. First, the bus stops were removed, then the divider on the main road was put up.
As of now, the BRTS dividers are present on one side and removed from the other side. The dividers are short and pose a problem for motorists, especially .