Bus commuters dodge traffic on Satara Road

PUNE: Regular commuters at Ravat Chowk on Satara Road have a challenge getting into PMPML buses or stepping off them in the absence of a proper bus shelter in the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) lane.
The bus shelter has been removed because of the ongoing road expansion work making commuters wait in the middle of the road to catch buses.
Geeta Sasane, who was waiting for a bus on the road on Thursday, said the bus shelter was around till Wednesday but was dismantled and removed to the roadside.
Bus drivers making trips on the route are unaware of the move and continue halting in the middle of the road, Sasane added.
Another commuter Mayur Kokaje said the administration should have instructions about shifting of a bus shelter to avoid confusion. Commuters are risking their lives by waiting in the traffic to catch buses, he said.
Officials in the PMC’s road department said the bus shelter had to be shifted and reconstructed due to expansion of the BRTS lane and the road.
They were in the process of communicating to the PMPML to shift the bus shelter to the roadside and inform the bus drivers, officials said.
The civic administration has initiated reconstruction of Satara Road BRTS lane. Plans are to add an additional lane for regular vehicles to ensure that private vehicles don’t enter these dedicated bus lanes.
The bus stops are also undergoing a revamp and a ramp has been planned for commuters to given them easy access up to the BRTS route. Work has started from Katraj and will continue till Laxminarayan Chowk. The other side will be taken up later.