Blame game has just begun

Blame game has just begun
BMTC, BDA Accuse RITES Of Delaying Bus Rapid Transit System
Ashwini Y S | TNN

Bangalore: Three established entities working in tandem on one major project that could have turned the traffic situation around in the city.
But, implementation of the much-hyped Grid Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which was to take off by the year-end, will be delayed by nearly four months, pushing the dream that far for inconvenienced commuters.
Here again, the classic blame game is being played out, with implementing agencies — the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) — pointing fingers at the public limited RITES, a consultancy organisation.
They say RITES, which had taken up the 29.5-km stretch project from the Central Silk Board (Hosur Road), has been inefficient.
RITES was supposed to have produced the comprehensive traffic transport study (CTTS) and a detailed project report (DPR) by May, but it has not materialised.
BMTC and BDA officials say the CTTS, supposed to be submitted by March-April, has still not seen the light of day, while DPR, supposed to be submitted by April-May, has been put off by another three months.
Until the two reports are furnished, technicalities including the project outlay will not be known.
Till now, RITES has managed to furnish two or three preliminary reports, but they are not to the liking of stakeholders. “They were presented without finalising the bus-stops and bus bays. RITES also had reservations about implementing the project in the centre path, as it has some apprehensions about the design.”
“It suggested the dedicated bus lane come up on the service roads instead. But it has been proved globally that the centre paths are more successful. We have asked Rites to come back with some changes,’’ a BMTC spokesperson said.
The delay in report submission will push tender commissioning by nearly four months, as Jawaharlal Nehru National Uurban Rural Mission has to appraise and approve the report.
High attrition rates
Sources say RITES has been buffeted by heavy attrition with over 30% of the staff joining private companies. “Many projects taken up by the organisation are long overdue because of this.” When contacted, RITES spokesperson, however, refused to comment on the related topics.
The dedicated bus lane, planned on the 29-km stretch from Central Silk Board to Hebbal, the first of its kind in Bangalore
Project to be executed by BMTC and BDA
RITES Ltd commissioned to prepare the detailed project report, latest by May
Inefficiency in Rites is said to be due to high attrition rate, as a result of which projects are piling up
BMTC and BDA have given Rites two months to furnish all the final reports
The consultancy firm has had reservations about the project design approved by BMTC and BDA
Work was supposed to begin by Dec 2007, but has been postponed indefinitely