I AM neither an engineer nor a professional communication expert. Purely as a commuter, I wish to highlight the planning defects in the existing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Peshawar. First, it was planned on a road that was already a challenge for vehicular traffic.

For this, the route was carved in the middle of the road, pushing non-BRT traffic to an even narrower space. Instead of utilising the available road space, the BRT route should have been lifted above the road.

Second, the bus stations, especially at the busy University Road, have been constructed where the previous road was at its narrowest.

In fact, at these restricted places the BRT buses speedily pass by, but the other vehicles face a severe bottleneck. Moreover, the overhead pedestrian bridges built for BRT users further restrict the road available to the general public, and affect the flow of traffic.

Besides, in some sections, especially the Tehkal area, where the BRT is elevated, the pillars protrude towards the road used by the other vehicles. Some of the low pillars have been bruised by high-roofed vehicles, and marks can be seen on them.

As a matter of fact, the BRT Peshawar might have been useful for those using it, but its defective planning and design create a nuisance for the entire general vehicular traffic.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government needs to revisit the present state of the BRT route, and employ experts to redesign it for the benefit of the general public.

Sayed G.B. Shah Bokhari
Peshawar

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2024