Inauguration of Metro Bus Service delayed yet again

[Salman]

Inauguration of Metro Bus Service delayed yet again


Rawalpindi

The inauguration of Metro Bus Service Project has once again been delayed for an indefinite period and nobody knows when it would be formally launched.

The inauguration of Metro Bus Service Project was expected on March 20, but once again it has been delayed for an indefinite period.

When ‘The News’ contacted Metro Bus Service Project Chief Engineer Israr Ahmed, he said that he does not know when inauguration of the project would take place.

When ‘The News’ contacted Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Deputy Director and Spokesman Umar Farooq, he also expressed his ignorance about the inauguration date of the project. He said the commissioner’s office could better explain the actual date of the inauguration.

When ‘The News’ contacted Assistant Commissioner (General) Tariq Salam Marwat, he said that they were sending all information to the RDA to tell day-to-day progress on the Metro Bus Service Project. He said that inauguration of the project has once again been delayed for an indefinite period. “We cannot provide the exact date of inauguration of the Metro Bus Service Project because the higher authorities have not yet given us any kind of directions in this regard,” he claimed.

When the inauguration of the project was cancelled on February 28, Rawalpindi Division Commissioner and Chairman Coordination Committee of Metro Bus Service Project Zahid Saeed had then told ‘The News’ that the inauguration ceremony would be held on March 15 or March 20.

And it is quite surprising that the concerned authority now does not know when the inauguration ceremony would be held.

However, sources told ‘The News’ that launching of the project has been delayed because of different reasons, including hindrance in removal of billboards along Benazir Bhutto Road, shifting of utility services and ever-increasing encroachments. Moreover, the majority of shopkeepers are not ready to shift their businesses. Sources said that the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has failed to demolish illegal buildings falling in the way of the project and the local management is not giving a green signal to the Punjab chief minister for inauguration of the Metro Bus Service Project, whereas the Punjab government has decided to pay full compensation to the affected persons for realisation of the project at the earliest.

Talking to ‘The News,’ the residents of Rawalpindi were of the view that delay in launching of the project is not a good sign. “We are eagerly waiting for the launch of Metro Bus Project. If inauguration of the project is delayed then what can we say of the completion of the project,” said Dr. Uzma Irfan. She said that people were happy that the Metro Bus Project would be launched on February 28, but it was delayed till second week of March and now that date has also elapsed and there was no sign of the inauguration.

Raja Abid Abbasi, a senior citizen, said that delay in launching of the project was a clear sign that work on the project would also be delayed. He expressed dismay over delay in inauguration of the project. “It is not a new thing. I doubt whether the project will be launched or not and the Metro Bus Service will ply on roads of Rawalpindi and Islamabad or not,” he stated.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-...vice-delay