The authorities have so far spent more than Rs 5.72 billion on Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus project which upon completion is estimated to cater thousands of passengers on daily basis between the two cities.
The expenditure occurred were Rs 3.93 billion until May 16 in Rawalpindi part against total cost of Rs 19.37 billion and Rs 1.79 spent in Islamabad against the total cost of Rs 24.84 billion.
The total length of the project is 22.5 km, 8.6 km in Rawalpindi and 13.9 in Islamabad with total cost of Rs 44.21 billion.
According to official information, at present no organised urban bus transport service is operating between cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The level of service offered by the minibuses is far below any acceptable standard. Traffic volumes of over 210,000 vehicles ply on three major corridors connecting two cities carrying around 525,000 passengers.
The project has been started from near Flashman Hotel on Mall RoadRawalpindi and as per plan following the existing Murree Road up to Faizabad, it will then turn left into the federal territory and follow IJP Road up to 9th Avenue.
Thereafter, it will turn right and follow the 9th Avenue in Islamabad then turn right on Jinnah Avenue upto the end of Blue Area. From Blue Area a connection to Secretariat stop will be provided through the open space behind parade ground. It will cross the Constitution Avenue and another couple of main roads through underpasses. However, the remaining length of this section is also designed on a lower level in an open trench section keeping in view various security constraints.
The work on the project is continuing in both the cities with full pace.