SURAT: After building the longest Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) network, Surat is set to get a modern metro rail that will integrate all public transport systems.
Surat has a 108 km BRTS corridor, the largest in the country in the public transport system.
“We also have city bus services which cover most parts of the city. In normal circumstances, around 2.50 lakh people commute using BRTS and city buses daily. Now, metro rail will further strengthen the public transport,’‘ Banchhanidhi Pani, Municipal Commissioner, Surat, told TOI.
At present, 157 buses play on 12 dedicated BRTS corridors while 575 city buses play on the roads. As Covid-19 cases continue to decline, people started using BRTS and city buses. On an average, 1.25 lakh people are using these services daily.
Interestingly, SMC has its own ‘Surat Money Cards’ for citizens that enables travel in BRTS and city Bus with just ‘tap-In” and ‘tap-out’ without waiting in queue to buy paper tickets and managing changes. Moreover, the card enables access to various transit and non-transit based services offered by SMC.
Nearly, 45,000 people are using this card for public transport and other services. This card will be valid for metro travel also.
News source:-https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/surat-metro-be-integrated-with-brts-city-buses/articleshow/80334824.cms
