Progress on Metro Bus Project reviewed

[Salman]

Progress on Metro Bus Project reviewed

RAWALPINDI: Girder launching for the construction of the elevated road for metro bus over railway lines at Marrir Chowk will begin within 10 days and the area will be closed to traffic.

The contractor Zahid Khan and Brothers (ZKB) Limited working on Package-I (Saddar to Committee Chowk) made the announcement during a meeting held at Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) offices chaired by Project Chairman Hanif Abbasi and Commissioner Zahid Saeed.

The meeting was held to review progress on Package-I Rawalpindi (Saddar to Committee Chowk) and Package-III Rawalpindi (6th Road to IJP Road) of Metro Bus Project. The meeting was attended by RDA officials and contractors of the packages under discussion.

Hanif Abbasi sought an exact timeframe for the completion of work on Marrir Chowk Railway Bridge to which the contractor said girder launching over the railway bridge is a highly technical process requiring heavy cranes.

Mr Abbasi also asked the contractor to finish work on Moti Mehal Bridge on Leh Nullah as the contractor had failed to complete one side.

However, the contractor maintained that work is likely to be completed on one side of the bridge within 15 days and the next part will be completed by the end of December.

Commissioner Zahid Saeed directed participants to try and resolve problems regarding procurement of material as soon as possible otherwise the construction of bus stations will be delayed.

It was noted that girder launching and work on import of glass is slow. Relevant officials were directed to speed up the work. Director Engineering was given the task of monitoring the work. Nespak project manager gave a detailed presentation on the ongoing progress of the two packages.

Commissioner Zahid Saeed reiterated the importance of speedy work and directed the contractors to work day and night.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2014