Guwahati: The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) is set to streamline bus stops and bus shelters for commuters' convenience and smooth traffic flow.

The overhaul will be based on a joint survey carried out by the GMC and the city traffic department on an instruction by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) to identify bus stoppages and number of bus shelters in the city.

There are more than 100 designated bus shelters in the city, but only 34 bus stoppages are operational.

The secretary, RTA, Bapan Kalita, said bus stoppages should be within a 2km radius but in the city the stoppages are within a radius of 100 to 200 metres.

"Most of the bus stoppages were set up illegally by private companies for advertisements which will be removed soon," Kalita said.

The bus stoppages create heavy traffic chaos and many remain unutilised as commuters usually flag down buses in the middle of road.

"We are currently incorporating a uniform system of bus shelters and jointly working with the traffic department. We will allot numbers to the bus shelters. At many points the bus shelters are within a distance of 200 metres whereas in several locations the gap is huge. Meanwhile, the survey has been concluded and we will discuss several policies, including setting up a bus shelter where it does not exist. Our prime focus is on a uniform structure by numbering the bus shelters and displaying the route numbers," said an official of the GMC while speaking to this correspondent.

The official said several bus shelters have been identified and require to be refurbished.

"The bus shelters are set up in an unorganised way. Some are in very narrow roads while some are near flyovers which create traffic congestion. There is no mention which bus will ply on which route and some bus stoppages do not have names. The survey has been done based on such issues so that these are rectified," said deputy commissioner of traffic Amanjeet Kaur.

Kalita said: "We have asked to set up bus shelters and the distance between stops should be 2km based on the survey to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the city. Some of the bus stoppages have a radius of 200 metres for which it becomes difficult for the commuters. The bus stoppages have sprouted here and there, violating norms."

He said 22 bus stoppages will be constructed along the stretch of National Highway 37 from Khanapara to Jalukbari to Khanamukh.

Kalita said there are some technical problems for which the construction of bus stoppages has not yet started.