25 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : The ongoing dismantling of Amritsar’s Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridor has been put on pause after Amritsar Vikas Manch, a local NGO, approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the removal of the infrastructure.
The contractor carrying out the dismantling work has been directed to stop work until the matter comes up for hearing again on September 28. Officials, however, clarified that the court order does not amount to a formal stay on the project.
NGO Challenges Dismantling
Amritsar Vikas Manch has opposed the removal of the BRTS corridor, arguing that the infrastructure, built at a cost of around ₹600 crore, should not be dismantled without examining whether it can be put to alternative public uses.
The NGO has questioned whether the existing stations, platforms and dedicated corridor could be redesigned or utilised as part of a future public transport system.
Contractor Asked to Stop Work
According to Municipal Corporation officials, the contractor involved in removing the BRTS grills and station platforms has been instructed to stop work until the next court hearing.
MC Superintending Engineer Sandeep Singh said the matter is scheduled to come up before the High Court on September 28. He clarified that the order is not a formal stay but that work has been paused pending the next hearing.
BRTS Project Cost Around ₹600 Crore
The BRTS project was constructed during the SAD-BJP government and became operational in 2016.
The dedicated corridor was designed to provide faster and more reliable bus connectivity across important parts of Amritsar. The project involved significant public expenditure, with reports putting the cost at around ₹600 crore.
Service Discontinued in 2023
The BRTS service was eventually discontinued in July 2023, after buses and related infrastructure remained substantially underused.
The project had originally been promoted as a solution to congestion and as an affordable public transport option for residents and visitors to the city.
Activists Question Decision
Amritsar Vikas Manch has argued that the BRTS could have continued serving students, employees, workers, women, tourists and pilgrims if operational shortcomings had been addressed.
The organisation has also questioned whether dismantling the infrastructure is the best option when the city continues to face public transport and traffic challenges.
Political Debate Over Dismantling
The proposed demolition has also triggered a political debate in Punjab.
Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia has alleged irregularities involving the tender floated for dismantling the BRTS infrastructure. These allegations are part of the wider political debate surrounding the project’s future.
Alternative Public Transport Plan
The Punjab government’s decision to remove the BRTS infrastructure has been linked to plans for operating electric buses on regular city routes instead of maintaining dedicated BRTS corridors.
The proposed shift has further fuelled discussion over whether the existing infrastructure should be removed completely or adapted for other transport purposes.
What Happens Next
The immediate future of the dismantling work will depend on the proceedings before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The next hearing is scheduled for September 28, when the court is expected to consider the petition filed by Amritsar Vikas Manch and the government’s response.
Until then, the contractor has been directed to keep the dismantling work on hold.
A ₹600-Crore Project at the Centre of Debate
The BRTS controversy has now moved beyond questions of whether the system succeeded operationally. It has become a debate over how existing public infrastructure and public money should be treated after a major transport project is discontinued.
The court proceedings could determine whether the dismantling proceeds as planned or whether authorities have to reconsider the future use of the BRTS infrastructure.