As Ahmedabad leads Gujarat in making rapid strides in progress, multi-modal public transport services are also being facilitated by the administration.
Five years after the first Metro rail started in the city, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has reintroduced the Double-Decker inbound Buses, a service that was in use 33 years ago.
Initially, the service has been launched with seven Electric Double Decker Buses, and 15 more will be added by April-May.
Pranav Kaneriya, who works at a private company, says, “The bus could be a boon for many local commuters, as buses on busy routes will not only have double capacity but will also feature USB Mobile Charging points between two seats and air-conditioning.”
The buses, with a seating capacity of 65, will also have several other features, such as four CCTV cameras inside, a CCTV monitor in the front with a live feed, a driver announcement system with a walkie-talkie for the driver that can also be used in case of an emergency, fire extinguishers, and a STOP button for passengers above the seat. There will also be electronic display boards inside and outside the bus displaying information on routes and destinations.
A double-decker bus service was recently launched by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel during the Vibrant Gujarat Summit four weeks ago. This service connected Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar with the GIFT city. The success of this service has influenced AMTS (Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service) to launch these buses for inbound public transport.
According to an AMTS officer, one of the biggest challenges of deploying double-decker buses is the availability of clear heights along the route. They cannot be deployed on routes that pass through underway bridges and underpasses. They also cannot drive through routes that pass below the flyovers.
The Red-Black two-storied buses have cost Rs. 6 crores each to the exchequer. The first bus was flagged off today by the City Mayor from the AMTS head office. In times when Ahmedabad road traffic is getting thicker by the day, the renewed excitement for public transport among locals with this new initiative may be helpful to make the situation slightly better for road commuters.
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