Metro likely to start rolling on 31st

[Salman]

The multi-billion Metro Bus Project for the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad is likely to be inaugurated on January 31, an official associated with the project said on Monday.

Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Chief Engineer Saeed Akhtar on Monday said that during his visit to the construction site he was informed that the labourers were facing problems due to thick fog at night and early morning.

Saeed Akhtar inspected Package-I (Faizabad to 9th Avenue) in Islamabad and Package-II (Peshawar Mor) and asked the contractors to complete work as early as possible so that finishing touches could be given to the project. He said that RDA has directed the contractors of Metro Bus Project to increase the labour force in the day to complete work as the contractors stop work during night due to dense fog and cold.

Saeed said that the project was earlier expected to be completed by the end of 2014 but due to sit-ins in the capital it was delayed and would now be completed by January 31, 2015. He said as many as 64 buses will ply on the metro bus route.

Metro Bus Project Site Engineer Muhammad Atif Javed said that work on dismantled portion of Nullah Leh Bridge near Liaquat Bagh has almost been completed. “Now we would install girders over it,” he added.

The Metro Bus Service would start from Flashman’s Resort Chowk on Benazir Bhutto Road and it will end at Pakistan Secretariat. The buses would cover a distance of 23.2 kilometres through Benazir Bhutto Road, Faizabad, IJ Principal Road, 9th Avenue and Jinnah Avenue of Islamabad.