CM to visit twin cities to monitor pace of work

[Salman]

Rawalpindi

Punjab Chief Minister Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif would pay a visit to the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in the first week of March to inspect the pace of work on the Metro Bus Service Project.

Credible sources told ‘The News’ here on Thursday that the chief minister would pay a visit to all sites where work is being executed by the concerned authorities through contractors and sub-contractors.

The executing agency, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and contractors working on their respective packages would give a detailed briefing on the project to the chief minister. The quality of work and standard of material being used would also be reviewed by Shahbaz Sharif, sources said.

After inspecting work and consulting the executing authorities, the chief minister would announce the date of inauguration of the project. According to sources, the project is expected to be inaugurated on March 23.

In view of the visit of the chief minister, Metro Bus Project Implementation Sub-Committee Chairman Hanif Abbasi and Project Director Commissioner Captain ® Zahid Saeed convened an important meeting recently which was attended by the concerned authorities, including contractors and sub-contractors.

During the meeting, Hanif Abbasi, while expressing satisfaction over the pace of work on the project, directed the contractors to further expedite its pace. The two officials, after the meeting, paid a visit to the sites of five packages in Rawalpindi and issued necessary directions to the staff.

RDA Spokesman Hafiz Muhammad Irfan, when asked about the visit of the Punjab chief Minister in the first week of next month, refused to comment over the matter.

However, he said that work on elevated portions of the project is almost over. Another component of the project, including laying of new sewerage and drainage pipelines, is also complete. The work on reconstruction, repair and carpeting of the entire Benazir Bhutto Road is now being carried out and round the clock which is likely to be over shortly.

The work of procuring 68 buses has been completed which are standing in Islamabad’s main depot. Elevators have also been connected at majority of bus stops of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, he said.

Replying to a query related to the inauguration of the project, Hafiz Muhammad Irfan said that it would be held before March 23. However, it depends upon the announcement made by the Punjab chief minister. “We will try our level best to implement his orders,” the spokesman concluded