Scorching Heat In Rajkot: BRTS Bus Service Disrupts Following Failures Of Sensors, Commuters Stranded During Peak Hours

Rajkot: Amid a record-breaking heatwave with temperatures hitting beyond 46°C, Rajkot’s Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) has suffered a major disruption. On Monday, sensors in 22 of the 28 buses operating on the city’s BRTS corridor malfunctioned due to the extreme heat, forcing the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) to pull them off the roads for urgent repairs.

The BRTS service, which operates along the 150-foot Ring Road from Madhapar Junction to Gondal Junction and includes 19 designated stops, relies heavily on automated sensors. These sensors control door functions and other critical systems, making them essential for safe and efficient operations.

Paresh Adhiya, who oversees the city bus service for RMC, confirmed that the unusually high temperature caused the failure. “With the temperature crossing 46°C, the sensors in 22 buses stopped functioning. These buses cannot run without operational sensors, so they were immediately sent to the workshop for repairs,” he said. The repair work is currently being handled by the agency responsible for bus maintenance.

This sudden breakdown has left thousands of daily commuters, including students and office-goers, facing inconvenience due to limited service availability. RMC has assured the public that efforts are underway to restore full BRTS operations as soon as possible.