The Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) is a high-quality, bus-based public transport concept that functions as a mass rapid transit system, bridging the gap between traditional bus services and high-cost metro rail systems. The concept was first fully integrated in Curitiba, Brazil, in 1974. In India, the BRTS chapter began with the announcement of the National Urban Transport Policy in 2006. It was introduced to solve the problem of growing traffic congestion and inadequate public transport infrastructure by offering a more affordable and sustainable alternative to rail-based systems.
The core mechanism of BRTS is its reliance on specialized infrastructure and operations to ensure speed and reliability. This includes dedicated lanes, often aligned in the center of the road, which allow buses to bypass general traffic congestion. The system incorporates priority at intersections through traffic signal management to reduce delays. Stations are enhanced with features like platform-level boarding and off-board fare collection (pre-ticketing) to minimize the time buses spend at stops.
BRTS is connected to major Indian urban development initiatives, having been supported by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and the Smart Cities Mission. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs continues to recommend BRTS as a viable alternative to Metro Rail for cities with lower ridership projections.
While Pune was the first Indian city to experiment with BRTS in 2006, Ahmedabad's Janmarg BRTS, launched in 2009, is widely considered the first successful full-fledged implementation. However, the system has seen significant recent changes: the Delhi BRT corridor was scrapped in 2016, and more recently, the Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered the removal of the 11.5 km-long BRTS corridor in Indore. This trend shows that while the core concept remains, its implementation has been challenged in several cities, leading to the dismantling of infrastructure.