Research Journal of Recent Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2277-2502 Vol. 1 (ISC-2011), 166-171 (2012) Res.J.Recent Sci. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) For Bus–Based Rapid Transit System (BRTS) Bhopal, MP, India Rathore Kanishka Raj, Dhawankar Aditi and Gungun MANIT Bhopal, MP, INDIA Available online at: www.isca.in (Received 12th October 2011, revised 25th January 2012, accepted 25th January 2012) Abstract EIA includes assessing the present status of air, water, land, noise, biological and socio-economic components of environment based on secondary data collected from various respective departments. Centrally located, Bhopal, capital city of Madhya Pradesh, is located on a hilly terrain within the Malwa Plateau. With an estimated population of 25 lakhs for the year 2011, it mainly relies on public transport with 48% share of passenger trips; this includes standard buses, mini buses and tempos (magic). Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a high-quality, high-capacity bus service that travels on exclusive lanes along designated routes, often compared with the speediness and comforts of a streetcar. BRT buses reducing travel time by 15 to 30 percent and with proper passenger facilities will surely revolutionize the public transport in Bhopal. While, time saving benefits, fuel savings, reduction in air pollution and in traffic congestion and noise and vibration reduction fall under the positive impacts, there are some negative impacts on environmental components of this project; which can be seen on three stages: the Design Stage, construction stage and operational stage. This paper predicts possible impacts on different component of environment during different phases of BRTS Bhopal and suggests possible mitigation measures for prevention as well as reduction. Keywords: Bus–based rapid transit system (BRTS), environmental impact assessment (EIA), public transport, pollution. References 1. Aarti B., Manish G., Rahul M., Rakesh K., Ravi S. and Sachin S., Efficiency of Bus Rapid Transit System in Pune, Kohinoor Business School, Khandala (2010) 2. Walter H., Bus Rapid Transit: A Cost-Effective Mass Transit Technology, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, New York (2009) 3. Pimpari-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Environmental Impact Assessment for Proposed BusBased Rapid Transit System (BRTS) for PCMC (2009) 4. Institution for Transportation and Development Policy Newyork, Bus Rapid Transit Planning Guide (2007) 5. GIDB, AMC, AUDA, CEPT Ahmedabad Bus Rapid Transit System, Draft Working Paper-9, Environmental Impact Assessment (2006) 6. Mehta & Mehta Associates for BMC under JNNURM, City Development Plan (2005) 7. Bhopal Municipal Corporation, Bus Rapid Transit System in Bhopal (2011) 8. Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Ltd., Delhi BRT System-Survey Report (2008) 9. Jay S., Jones C., Slinn P. and Wood C., Environmental Impact Assessment: Retrospect and Prospect Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 27, 287-300 (2007) 10. Lenzen M., Murray, S., Korte, B., Dey, C., Environmental impact assessment including indirect effects – a case study using input-output analysis, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 23, 263- 282 (2003) 11. Shepherd A. and Ortolano L., Strategic environmental assessment for sustainable urban development, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 16, 321-335 (1996) 12. Fernandes J., EIA procedure, Landscape ecology and conservation management - Evaluation of alternatives in a highway EIA process, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 20, 665-680 (2000)