Rapid Mass Transit System Islamabad: Firms to conduct feasibility study in first week of Oct

[LRE]

Rapid Mass Transit System: Firms to conduct feasibility study in first week of Oct

By Fazal Sher

ISLAMABAD: The consultancies hired by Capital Development Authority (CDA) for conducting feasibility study on the twin cities Rapid Mass Transit System (RMTS) will start work in the first week of next month.

The authority has completed all formalities concerning the project and allowed M/S Rejlers and National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) to start work on the feasibility in the first week of October, an official of the authority told Daily Times.

He said the firms would complete the study in eight months. Both the firms would conduct studies on underground, on-ground and overhead travelling facilities between the twin cities.

The CDA chairman has strictly directed the firms to complete the study within the stipulated time period. A mole in the authority said that during the study the firms would collect and review all planning and transportation data of both the cities.

The firms would also review the current travel patterns and operation of available public transport system to develop the RMTS system concept. Currently, private transport is the major means of mobility between the twin cities, where around 1600 transport vehicles including Mazdas, Toyotas and Suzukis are plying on 16 routes.

The official said that there was no organized bus service operating in the twin cites and the quality of service offered by the minibuses was far below an acceptable standard due to which the commuters had to rely on either two wheelers or other means of transportation. He said no significant new transport infrastructure had been introduced in the last decade.

The official said that following a deluge of public complaints about poor quality of transport service in the capital city, the CDA decided to launch the RMTS. Due to absence of an organised transport system in the city the commuters are herded into transport vehicles.

The commuters are not only forced to squash up to make room for more passengers, but also some are made to stand in the gangway causing inconvenience to the fellow passengers during boarding or disembarking the vehicles.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...008_pg11_8