Tuesday, June 02, 2015 – Islamabad—Although a formal grand inaugural ceremony of Pindi-Islamabad Metro Bus project is taking place on June 3 (tomorrow) by Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif at Convention centre, its soft opening took place Monday when Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif took media personnel along with him and had a round of the entire track. Taking a ride on the Metro Bus from Pak Secretariat to Saddar and then returning to Pak Sectt stop for a briefing at Punjab House was indeed a jolly good experience. The 23-km route that used be covered in hours squeezed into just 20-minute each side giving a feeling ‘change is not coming rather it has come at least for those shuttling between twin cities.’
Metro Bus Project Director Commissioner of Rawalpindi Zahid Saeed gave a briefing to the media person and highlighted various aspects of the new launched bus service.
Addressing the media persons briefly, CM Shahbaz Sharif said Metro Bus service would provide better transportation to the people of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad as it was a unique project of its kind meant to facilitate the masses.
Shahbaz Sharif added that the project has been completed in a record time ensuring transparency. He said the government would continue to work for the welfare of the masses of the country in all circumstances. He said that 24 bus stations have been constructed along the 23 kilometers long route, with elevators and ticketing facilities.
The CM pointed out that the project was delayed by six month due to dharna of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf which could not only cause damage to the project but also to the country. The Chief Minister said elaborate security arrangements have been made for security of the passengers, buses and the infrastructure.
To a question, he said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will create better transportation and new era of development in the country. He said many projects of energy are underway to overcome the shortage of energy crises. To another question, he said Metro Bus service will soon start in Multan.
Earlier, briefing newsmen Project Director Commissioner Rawalpindi Zahid Saeed said that the project has been completed at a total cost of Rs. 44.84 billion. He said the total length of the metro project corridor is approximately 23 km (8,6 elevated,10 km at grade and 4 km trench). The project includes 2 fly overs, 14 pedestrian underpasses and 13 vehicular underpasses to make it signal free to facilitate 135,000 passengers daily. He said Rs 30 b have been allocated for Peshawar More interchange and remaining Rs. 41.84 billion on cost sharing basis between federal government and the government of Punjab. He dismissed the impression that Metor Bus was not of international standards and construction work was still pending on its routes. By the grace of Almight the bus will be plying on the roads by Wednesday catering to the travelling needs of the hundreds and thousands of the residents of twin cities, he said.
