Surat, October 18: The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has blacklisted a monopolistic agency for its failure to operate swing gates on BRTS routes. The agency had been awarded a contract for 322 swing gates at a total cost of Rs 4.42 crore in three phases, but not a single gate was operational.
After receiving several complaints, the SMC's standing committee chairman Rajan Patel directed the department to blacklist the agency on September 21. Within 25 days, 51 swing gates have been activated, and work is underway to activate the remaining gates in a phased manner.
Swing gates were installed near the bus stand in 2018 to make the BRTS route more smooth and to prevent private vehicles from entering. Due to the non-activation of the swing gates, private vehicles were plying on the BRTS route, leading to an increase in accidents.
The SMC's decision to blacklist the agency and activate the swing gates is a welcome move. It is expected to reduce accidents and ensure the smooth operation of BRTS routes.
