View source for Amritsar Metrobus

{{short description|Bus rapid transit system in Amritsar, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox Public transit
 | box_width       =
 | name            = Amritsar BRTS
 | image           =  [[File:Amritsarmetrobus11.jpg|300px]]
 | locale          = [[Amritsar]]
 | transit_type    = [[Bus rapid transit]]
 | lines           = 8
 | stations        = 56
 | ridership       = 91000<ref>{{cite web | title=At 91K, BRTS ridership affects auto drivers | website=The Tribune | date=24 February 2019 | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/at-71k-brts-ridership-affects-auto-drivers/733968.html | access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>
 | website         = [http://amritsarportal.infinium.management/ Amritsar Metrobus] 
 | chief_executive = [[Public Works Department]], [[Amritsar]]
 | headquarters    = [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab, India]]
 | began_operation = 15 December 2016 (initial)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/brts-completes-3-yrs-fails-to-catch-fancy-of-residents-11643|title=BRTS completes 3 yrs, fails to catch fancy of residents|last=Service|first=Tribune News|website=The Tribune|language=en|access-date=26 December 2019}}</ref><br/>28 January 2019 (full)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ptcnews.tv/finally-brts-project-inaugurated-in-amritsar/|title=Finally, BRTS Project Inaugurated in Amritsar|last=Mahi|first=Shaminder|date=28 January 2019|website=PTC NEWS|language=en-US|access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/amritsar-brts-relaunched-with-3-month-free-travel/articleshow/67731405.cms|title=Amritsar BRTS relaunched with 3-month free travel - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>
 | ended_operation =
 | owner           =  
 | operator        = Punjab Bus Metro Society (250 employees)<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.pidb.org/Criteria-02-2018.pdf| title=Punjab Bus Metro Society (PBMS) | website=Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Employees of metro bus complain of salary delay | website=Tribuneindia News Service | date=15 February 2019 | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/employees-of-metro-bus-complain-of-salary-delay/729332.html | access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>
 | marks           =
 | vehicles        = 93<ref>{{cite web | title=Holy city of Amritsar to get BRTS, cabinet clears proposal | website=Punjab News Express | date=4 August 2015 | url=http://punjabnewsexpress.com/punjab/news/holy-city-of-amritsar-to-get-brts-cabinet-clears-proposal-42198.aspx | accessdate=18 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/brts-project-for-amritsar-ludhiana-28121.html|title=BRTS project for Amritsar, Ludhiana|first=India TV News|last=Desk|date=20 September 2013|website=www.indiatvnews.com|accessdate=26 December 2019}}</ref>
 | train_length    =
 | headway         = 
 | system_length   = {{convert|46|km|abbr=on}}
 | track_gauge     =
 | minimum_radius_of_curvature = 
 | el              =
 | average_speed   = 
 | top_speed       = {{convert|21|km/h|abbr=on}}
 | map             = 
 | map_name        =
 | map_state       = 
}}

'''Amritsar MetroBus''' ('''Amritsar BRTS''') is the [[bus rapid transit]] system (BRTS) in the city of [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab, India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://urbantransportnews.com/after-missing-several-deadlines-amritsar-brts-launches-finally/|title=After missing several deadlines, Amritsar BRTS launches finally|last=News|first=Urban Transport|date=29 January 2019|website=Urban Transport News|language=en-US|access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>  Amritsar MetroBus allows easy travel to different places in city like the [[Golden Temple]], [[Jallianwala Bagh]], [[Guru Nanak Dev University]] and [[Khalsa College, Amritsar|Khalsa College]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Metro bus gets lukewarm response | website=The Tribune | date=31 January 2019 | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/metro-bus-gets-lukewarm-response/721687.html | access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref> for nominal fares.<ref>{{cite web | title=Fare of metro bus service revised | website=The Tribune | date=25 February 2019 | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/fare-of-metro-bus-service-revised/734564.html | access-date=3 March 2019}}</ref> The time gap or frequency between two buses on the same route is five minutes.<ref>{{cite web | title=Frequency of Metro buses increases | website=The Tribune | date=20 February 2019 | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/frequency-of-metro-buses-increases/731859.html | access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Amritsarmetrobusnew.jpeg|thumb|Amritsar MetroBus]] -->

==Construction and Operation==
The project was commenced on 19 September, 2013<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Amritsar-BRTS-to-get-operational-by-December/articleshow/46648810.cms|title=Amritsar BRTS to get operational by December &#124; Chandigarh News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|accessdate=26 December 2019}}</ref> and was launched on 28 January, 2019 with the cost of {{INRConvert|545|c}}.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.uniindia.com/sidhu-launches-bus-rapid-transit-project/north/news/1481525.html|title=Sidhu launches Bus Rapid Transit project|last=XC JS PS 1806|first=UNI|date=28 January 2019|work=United News of India|access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Govt set to put Rs 545 cr BRTS project on track | website=The Tribune | date=29 January 2019 | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/govt-set-to-put-rs-545-cr-brts-project-on-track/720306.html | access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref> Construction work started on 26 February, 2015. In September, 2016, 90% of work was completed.<ref>{{cite web | last=Service | first=Tribune News | title=State govt departments unlikely to complete BRTS by March 31 deadline | website=tribuneindia.com | date=29 December 2015 | url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/cities/amritsar/state-govt-departments-unlikely-to-complete-brts-by-march-31-deadline/174327.html | accessdate=30 December 2015}}</ref> Amritsar BRTS is based on [[Ahmedabad BRTS]] model <ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Amritsar-to-copy-Ahmedabad-BRTS-model/articleshow/25722789.cms|title=Amritsar to copy Ahmedabad BRTS model &#124; Chandigarh News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|accessdate=26 December 2019}}</ref> and was constructed on the lines of [[Metrobus (Istanbul)]]. <ref name="auto"/> [[Volvo Buses]] showed its interest in BRTS project at the holy city of Amritsar.<ref>{{cite web | author=TNN | title=Volvo keen on BRTS | website=The Times of India | date=8 August 2015 | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Infosys-to-start-work-on-Mohali-unit-in-a-month/articleshow/48398869.cms | accessdate=18 August 2015}}</ref> The Amritsar MetroBus operates with 93 Air-conditioned [[Automatic transmission|AT]] buses by [[Tata Marcopolo]]. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tatamotors.com/press/tata-motors-commences-delivery-of-new-ac-buses-with-automatic-transmission-in-amritsar-for-new-brts-operations/|title=Tata Motors commences delivery of new AC buses, with Automatic Transmission in Amritsar, for new BRTS operations|website=Tata Motors Limited|access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref> After the launch MetroBus recorder ridership of 41,000 passengers within one week.<ref>{{cite web | title=BRTS begins drawing passengers enormously | website=The Tribune | date=7 February 2019 | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/brts-begins-drawing-passengers-enormously/725207.html | access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref> Amritsar BRTS authorities sold more than 8,000 smart cards to daily passengers within a week.<ref>{{cite web | title=BRTS has 8,000 smart card holders | website=The Tribune | date=21 February 2019 | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/brts-has-8-000-smart-card-holders/732470.html | access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref> The transportation system is completely free for school students in uniform up to senior secondary classes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amritsar/brts-ride-to-be-free-for-school-students-in-uniform/articleshow/64982244.cms|title=BRTS ride to be free for school students in uniform|work=The Times of India|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref> After launch, for first three month project was free of cost for commuters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/navjot-singh-sidhu-launches-amritsar-brts-says-wants-to-give-it-a-chance-to-succeed-5558789/|title=Navjot Singh Sidhu launches Amritsar BRTS, says wants to give it a chance to succeed|date=29 January 2019|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>

==Key features==
Some of the key features of Amritsar BRTS are:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Amritsar-BRTS-project-starts-moving/articleshow/36366954.cms|title=Amritsar BRTS project starts moving &#124; India News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|accessdate=26 December 2019}}</ref>
*Automatic Doors at metro Stations for passengers safety
*Overheard bridges for pedestrians
*Two different lanes for movement of buses in both directions
*Intersections will act as boarding place for the buses
*Complete Air conditioned buses
*Automated doors of all buses
*Lifts for commuters at Metro Stations on elevated corridor
*A special Metro smart Card similar to that like in Metro Rails <ref>{{cite web|date=8 February 2019|title=Smart cards for metro bus passengers soon|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/smart-cards-for-metro-bus-passengers-soon/725826.html|access-date=24 February 2019|website=The Tribune}}</ref>
*Smart Announcements at Metro Stations and in Metro Buses similar to those in Metro Railways
*Retrofitted Metro Stations on elevated corridor

==Corridors==
Metro Bus's 46 km route have multiple routes <ref>{{cite web | title=Long BRTS routes for short journeys | website=Tribuneindia News Service | date=3 February 2019 | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/long-brts-routes-for-short-journeys/722918.html | access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref> and corridors: <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amritsar/amritsar-brts-to-be-revived-soon/articleshow/62386959.cms|title=Amritsar BRTS to be revived soon - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Delay irks metro bus service users | website=The Tribune | date=5 February 2019 | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/delay-irks-metro-bus-service-users/724231.html | access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>
* Atari Road – ISBT to India Gate via Bhandari Bridge, GNDU, Chheharta (12 km)
* Jalandhar Road – ISBT to MCA Gate via Tarawalan Pul (6 km)
* Verka Road – ISBT to Verka via Hussainpura Bridge, G. T. Road Bypass (13 km)
* Sham Singh Attari Wala gate and Bhandari Bridge <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/amritsar-grab-the-chance-44663|title=Amritsar, grab the chance|first=Tribune News|last=Service|website=Tribuneindia News Service|accessdate=26 December 2019}}</ref> to India Gate
* Bhandari Bridge to Daburji <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/commuters-feel-unbearable-heat-as-brts-enters-bhandari-bridge/story-CumX80PWJe0bbfLsLnoGvO.html|title=Commuters feel unbearable heat as BRTS enters Bhandari Bridge|date=15 April 2015|website=Hindustan Times|accessdate=26 December 2019}}</ref>
* Daburji Bypass to Verka
* Verka to Celebration Mall <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/rs-600-crore-brts-project-kicks-off-in-amritsar/story-qekn880sE3xUaxsz5DlwJP.html|title=Rs 600-crore BRTS project kicks off in Amritsar|date=21 July 2014|website=Hindustan Times|accessdate=26 December 2019}}</ref>
* Celebration Mall to Sant Singh Sukha Singh Chowk
* 4S Chowk to Kitchlu Chowk
* Kitchlu Chowk to Old Sadar Police Station
* [[Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport|Amritsar International Airport]] to [[Golden Temple]]/Ghee Mandi (launched in August 2021)

In February 2019, citizens demanded service to be extended to Circular road because of frequent traffic congestion in the area. <ref>{{cite web | title=Rapid transit system sought for congested Circular Road | website=The Tribune | date=17 February 2019 | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/rapid-transit-system-sought-for-congested-circular-road/730144.html | access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>

In August 2021, A new route 501 (UP/DWN) was launched directly connecting [[Amritsar International Airport]] with [[Golden Temple]], The new route comprises 14.15 Km and 14 Metro Stations

==Green mobility==
Amritsar Smart City Limited planned to add additional 30 [[Electric bus]]es and 9,000 electric [[Auto rickshaw]]s for feeder service to the Amritsar BRTS.<ref>{{cite web | title=ASCL bestowed mobility solution award | website=The Tribune | date=27 February 2019 | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/ascl-bestowed-mobility-solution-award/735533.html | access-date=3 March 2019}}</ref>

==Awards and recognition==
In November, 2019 at 12th urban India mobility conference and exhibition in Lucknow, Amritsar MetroBus bagged an ''award of excellence'' under the category of ‘Best Urban Mass Transit System’ from [[Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs]], India. <ref>{{cite web | title=City BRTS scripts a success story | website=The Tribune | date=19 November 2019 | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/city-brts-scripts-a-success-story/862961.html | access-date=23 November 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Golden temple]]
* [[Tourism in Amritsar]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/2b.2_BRT%20Amritsar_LaghuParashar.pdf Amritsar BRTS - United Nations ESCAP]
*[http://www.umtc.co.in/bus-rapid-transit%20-system%20-umtc-192 Bus Rapid Transit System For Amritsar]

{{Bus rapid transit in India |state=expanded}}
{{Punjab (India)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amritsar Brts}}
[[Category:Transport in Amritsar]]
[[Category:Bus rapid transit in India]]
[[Category:2016 establishments in Punjab, India]]