CM orders early completion of work on Metro Bus Project

[Salman]

Rawalpindi

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif paid a visit to the Metro Bus Project site here on Sunday to review the ongoing work and directed the local administration to complete the project at the earliest.

The chief minister also checked the test drive of Metro buses in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Chairman Metro Bus Project Hanif Abbasi, Chief Secretary, Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Zahid Saeed, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sajid Zafar Daal and other high-ranking officials were present on the occasion.

Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Zahid Saeed briefed the CM on the Metro Bus Service construction work and said that the project faced delay due to different reasons, particularly the sit-ins of Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri. He said that unexpected rains also delayed the construction work of Metro Bus Project in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. He told Shahbaz Sharif that CCTV cameras have also been installed at 24 Metro Bus Stations. He assured the chief minister of early completion of construction work on the project.

Preparations for inauguration of the state-of-the-art Metro Bus Service are in full swing. The Capital Development Authority (CDA), Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and other relevant departments are busy in making arrangements for its inauguration.

Air-conditioned sitting arrangements had also been made for passengers. A central control system would monitor the Metro Bus Service.

The Metro Bus Service track starts from Flashman’s Hotel Chowk and ends at Pak Secretariat, covering a total distance of about 23 kilometers.

As many as 64 buses would ply on the Metro Bus route between the twin cities, while a total of 24 modern bus stations have been built on the track. Out of the total, 10 are on Rawalpindi’s Murree Road while the remaining 14 are in Islamabad.

The buses starting from Flashman’s Hotel on Mall Road in Rawalpindi will follow Benazir Bhutto Road up to Faizabad and then turn left into the federal territory and follow IJP Road up to 9th Avenue. Then, it will turn right and follow the 9th Avenue. Thereafter, it will turn right on Jinnah Avenue up to the end of Blue Area. From Blue Area, a connection to Pak Secretariat stop will be provided through the open space behind old Parade Avenue. It will then cross the Constitution Avenue and another couple of main roads through underpasses.

One of the biggest interchanges would be constructed at Peshawar Morr, Islamabad. The roads along the Metro Bus Service route had been widened to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

All buses would be air-conditioned having the facility of security. Special seats would be allocated to women. The buses would facilitate school and college students, office workers, hospital staff and traders. The service would not only save time of commuters but also save energy.