In a move to modernise public transportation and alleviate worsening traffic congestion on the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) road, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Commissioner Ketan Garg inspected the Pendurthi Junction on Thursday to assess the feasibility of the proposed Electric Rapid Transit (e-RT) system.

The high-level joint inspection team included GVMC Chief Engineer P.V. Satyanarayana Raju, Chief City Planner A. Prabhakar Rao, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) K. Praveen Kumar, Pendurthi Mandal Revenue Officer Venkataramana, and representatives from Switzerland-based HESS Green Mobility India Private Limited.

Metro-like facilities for commuters

The inspection focused on establishing a robust framework for the project along the highly congested stretch between Pendurthi Junction and Convent Junction. Motorists and daily commuters on this route have been facing severe hardships due to gridlocks.

The proposed e-RT system aims to address these bottlenecks by introducing high-capacity, road-based public transport that replicates metro-style efficiency and facilities. The system utilises dedicated corridors where advanced electric buses can operate swiftly, and safely, without emitting pollutants.

High-capacity electric buses

Technical experts from HESS highlighted that the specialised electric buses are designed for high-capacity transit, capable of carrying over 240 passengers simultaneously. Built for high-frequency urban operations, these vehicles can run for up to 23 hours a day.

The firm’s representatives pointed out that the engineering framework relies on over 140 years of expertise and has already been deployed successfully across several European countries and Australia to improve urban mobility. Local authorities noted that the project will significantly reduce the dependence on private vehicles, thereby curbing urban pollution levels.

Inter-departmental review meeting directed

During the site visit, the administrative and technical teams reviewed alignment challenges, potential locations for bus stations, the development of dedicated lanes, and the auxiliary power infrastructure required to sustain the fleet.

To expedite the planning phase, the GVMC Commissioner directed the Chief Engineer to coordinate a comprehensive inter-departmental review meeting. The upcoming session will involve key stakeholders, including the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL), the traffic police, and revenue authorities to finalise the project modalities.