AMRITSAR : Once projected as a revolutionary transformation of urban transport in Punjab, Amritsar’s Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), built at a cost of around Rs 600 crore, is now set to be dismantled in its present form after a decade marked by controversies, operational failures and financial losses.Ironically, Inderbir Singh Nijjar, the AAP MLA from Amritsar South and a former minister in the Bhagwant Mann government, has now described the basic concept of the project as ‘ill-conceived’ for a city like Amritsar.According to Nijjar, the dedicated corridors running through the middle of busy roads created inconvenience for passengers, who often had to cross traffic and walk considerable distances to reach the stations.The large gaps between several stops also encouraged commuters to opt for autorickshaws and other three-wheelers.The first phase of the ambitious project was inaugurated by the then Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in 2016.The service subsequently struggled to attract commuters. Several buses remained unused, while a number of routes were discontinued.The project also witnessed controversies involving employees and operational issues, including strikes by staff over their demands, further disrupting services.In January 2019, the then Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu attempted to revive the struggling project by relaunching the BRTS and announcing three months of free travel to encourage commuters.The Congress government also introduced other initiatives, including free travel facilities for students.However, despite repeated efforts and claims that daily ridership had at one stage touched around 60,000, the system failed to become the preferred mode of transport for a large section of city residents.The project was reportedly incurring losses of around ₹2 crore every month, making its continuation under the existing model financially unviable, said Nijjar.The Punjab government has now decided to remove the dedicated BRTS corridors, platforms and railings, which occupy around 30 feet of road space.The move is expected to provide additional space for vehicular traffic and help ease congestion, added Nijjar.The government plans to replace the dedicated-corridor model with around 100 electric buses operating on regular roads, with more frequent stops aimed at making public transport more accessible.