Islamabad: Mass Transit System feasibility study agreement next week

[LahoreEstate]

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the consultant firm hired by the authority will sign final agreement next week for conducting feasibility study of Mass Transit System between Rawalpinidi and Islamabad. “After signing the final agreement the consultant firm will start work on feasibility of the project,” said a senior official of CDA while talking to Daily Times on Friday. He said total cost of the project was Rs 70 million. He said the CDA Traffic-Engineering Directorate and representatives of the consultant firm had given the final presentation to the CDA board recently and the board had directed the directorate to sign an agreement with the firm. The firm would complete the project in eight months, he added. The official said the firm would conduct feasibility study regarding underground, on ground and overhead travelling facilities between the twin cities. During the study they would collect and review all planning and transportation data of both the cities, he said. He said the study would comprise present and future transport requirements of both the cities. Currently, private transport is major means of mobility between the two cities and 1,600 vehicles, including minibuses and vans, are plying on 16 routes within and between the two cities, he added. There is no organised transport service in the twin cites and the level of service offered by the minibuses is far below any acceptable standard, he said, adding, the commuters have to relay on either two wheelers or on other forms of private transport. He said in the absence of any organised transport system and negligence of the authorities the commuters, including government servants who work in Islamabad but live in Rawalpindi, face the transport problem twice a day. There is no schedule of public transport service in both the cities, which creates problems for the commuters on daily basis, he added. fazal sher

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