Punjab Puts Amritsar BRTS Shutdown on Hold as High Court Seeks Answersਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਬੀਆਰਟੀਐੱਸ ਬੰਦ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਫ਼ੈਸਲਾ ਟਲਿਆ, ਹਾਈ ਕੋਰਟ ਨੇ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਤੋਂ ਜਵਾਬ ਮੰਗਿਆ

The Punjab government has put on hold its plan to discontinue the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in Amritsar, the state's Advocate-General told the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court, in turn, asked the state to explain why a project that cost nearly Rs 600 crore is being wound up after about 10 years. The matter returns to court on October 13.

What did the Punjab government tell the High Court?

Advocate-General Maninderjit Singh Bedi told a Bench of Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor that the discontinuance of the scheme "has been kept in abeyance", The Tribune reported. Recording that statement, the Bench deferred its consideration of an application seeking a stay on the decision to the next date of hearing.

Who challenged the BRTS shutdown?

The case is a public interest petition filed by the Amritsar Vikas Manch. Hindustan Times reported that the petition was filed on September 22. It says the project was implemented at a cost of nearly Rs 600 crore and is being discontinued without any justifiable cause, which, the petitioners argued, would waste huge public money and cause grievance to the public at large. Senior advocate S S Behl appeared for the petitioner.

What has the High Court asked the state to explain?

The court directed the state and other respondents to file an affidavit setting out what was originally conceived when the BRTS was introduced in Amritsar, and the amount of public money spent on it. The affidavit must also clarify "why the project has to be discontinued, just after expiry of about 10 odd years, and what the respondents propose to do now," the court said.

The affidavit has to be filed by a responsible officer not below the rank of Secretary of the department concerned, and a copy must reach the petitioner at least 24 hours before the next hearing.

What is the background of the Amritsar BRTS?

Hindustan Times reported that the first phase of the project was inaugurated in 2016 by then deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, and that reports suggest it failed to attract enough commuters. It said many buses remained unused and some routes were discontinued over ridership issues, and that a 2019 attempt to revive it with free travel did not work either. Earlier this year, the newspaper said, the government had decided to dismantle the dedicated corridor to free up road space.

What happens next in the Amritsar BRTS case?

The High Court has listed the matter for October 13, when the state's affidavit is due and the stay application will be considered. Until then, the government's statement means the shutdown does not go ahead.

Has Punjab scrapped the Amritsar BRTS?

No. The state told the High Court that the discontinuance of the scheme has been kept in abeyance, so the decision is on hold for now.

When is the next hearing?

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has fixed October 13, 2026 as the next date of hearing.

How much did the Amritsar BRTS project cost?

The petition and court order describe the project as having been implemented at a cost of nearly Rs 600 crore.