Hubballi: To add Light Rail Transit (LRT) facility to the existing HDBRTS lane between the twin cities, Dharwad District In-charge Minister Santosh Lad recently visited France to get firsthand information on the LRT system.
During his Europe tour, Lad visited France, especially to study the LRT system there. He also visited HESS lighTram, a trolleybus (tram) manufacturing unit in France, and travelled in the trolleybus to experience the facilities.
About one-and-a-half years ago, Lad expressed his idea of making the LRT facility available between the twin cities to cater to the increasing number of commuters and ease traffic congestion. He had also said that the LRT facility would be introduced in the dedicated BRTS lane itself and would not require any separate lane.
HESS lighTram is a Switzerland-based company that has been manufacturing trolleybuses and commercial vehicles since 1882. The company has supplied trolleybuses to several countries, including France, and getting good responses from the public.
Eco-friendly buses
During his visit, Lad discussed the details of the mechanism and functioning of the buses with the manufacturing unit heads. HESS lighTram trolleybuses are electric buses and ideal for being pollution-free, noise-free and environment-friendly.
The company provides a real-time trolleybus tracking system, WiFi facility, safety and all required modern facilities for the passengers. Each trolleybus can carry about 200-250 passengers at a time.
Lad said the world is looking for a pollution-free and eco-friendly transport system. He found HESS lighTram trolleybuses as a good option for the twin cities. He has discussed the need of such a project for the rapidly growing twin cities. Plans are there to introduce the facility on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The company has been asked to prepare a feasibility study report. If things are favourable, then the project will be introduced.
“Introduction of these trolleybuses is subject to economical feasibility. If found viable from all perspectives, the government will think of introducing the project on PPP model in Hubballi-Dharwad to benefit people,” he said.
Charmless Chigari
The HDBRTS Company came up with Chigari buses and launched its service on October 2, 2018 between the twin cities. The company has been operating 100 buses, which were introduced six years ago. These buses have been operating for the last six years and they badly need a facelift. Due to funds, spare-parts issues, many buses look very old and outdated. People have been complaining about these buses and also demanding the authorities to replace the old buses with new ones or at least give them a facelift.