- Multan, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus projects approved
- Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus project to start February 28
The Punjab cabinet has given formal approval to Multan, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus projects.
A meeting of the Punjab cabinet was held under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday.
The foundation stone of Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus project will be laid on February 28 while those in Multan and Faisalabad would be started by the end of the current year.
The process of computerisation of land record under Punjab Land Record Management Information System in 36 districts of the province would be completed by December 2014.
Provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, chief secretary, inspector general police, secretaries concerned and senior officials were present.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that after success of metro bus project in Lahore, the Punjab government has decided to launch metro bus service in three major cities of the province including Multan, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi. He said that Rawalpindi-Islamabad project would be completed in 11 months while those in Multan and Faisalabad would be executed in a period of ten months.
Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus project would start from Flashman Hotel and go up to Islamabad Secretariat. The 8.6 km long route of metro bus in Rawalpindi would be elevated while 14.6 km route in Islamabad would be on the ground.
The project would cost a total amount of Rs 38 billion and more than 0.15 million people would avail comfortable economical and speedy transport facilities daily. As many as 60 metro buses would be plied on the route of Rawalpindi-Islamabad.
The chief minister said that Rawalpindi-Islamabad project would be completed speedily, transparently and within the timeframe. He said that all projects of metro bus would be a masterpiece of standard and transparency. He directed that effective planning be made for maintaining the flow of traffic during the execution of Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus project and special attention be paid to the convenience of the people. He further directed that the process of acquisition of land be completed in a transparent manner.
Shahbaz issued instructions for formation of a committee under the chairmanship of Punjab chief secretary and directed that the committee should supervise the process of acquisition of land and payment of compensation by visiting Rawalpindi twice a month. He said that work would be carried out round the clock for the completion of the project within stipulated period.
He said that metro bus projects in Multan and Faisalabad would be constructed on the pattern of metro system of Dubai and started during the current year.
The chief minister further said that Land Record Management Information System (LRMIS) is of vital importance and would rid the people of corrupt Patwar culture. He said that this system will result in provision of ownership deeds to the citizens within 50 minutes.
He said that the process of land record computerisation would be completed in 24 districts of the province by June 2014 and the remaining 12 by December 2014.
The chief minister directed to evolve independent evaluation system for land record computerisation project and said that it would help improve the efficiency of LRMIS. He said that a sum of Rs 14 billion is being spent on land record computerisation project which would also go a long way in resolving land disputes.
The chief minister directed to form district committees comprising ministers and assembly members of the same districts where service centres have been completed in tehsils to monitor their performance. He further directed that the process of recruitment of the staff for the project be completed in a hundred percent transparent manner.
Shahbaz directed that on the pattern of land record computerisation project, a comprehensive programme be also evolved to computerise police stations and rapid progress be made in this direction.
The meeting also gave approval to Punjab Free & Compulsory Education Bill 2013 and annual report of Punjab Public Service Commission for year 2012.