As many as 64 buses would ply on the Metro bus route between the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, an official working on the project has said.
He said that work on the project is continuing and would be completed within the stipulated timeframe.
“This is a public welfare project and every effort is being made for its speedy completion,” he said.
The multi-billion mass transit project, estimated to cater to thousands of passengers in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, was launched in March 2014 and is scheduled to be completed before the end of the year.
The project starting from near Flashman Hotel on Mall Road Rawalpindi and follow the existing Murree Road up to Faizabad and will turn left into the federal territory and follow IJP Road up to 9th Avenue after which it will turn right and follow 9th Avenue in Islamabad.
Thereafter, it will turn right on Jinnah Avenue up to 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 Constitution Avenue and another couple of main roads through underpasses.
The official said that Capital Development Authority (CDA) had already approved the construction of a Metro bus depot worth Rs1.5 billion. “More than 50 buses would be parked in the depot at night time,” he said.
He said that Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) had sought 20 acres of land from CDA for the depot. “We are trying to get an additional three acres of land for this purpose,” he said.
To a question about the price of the land, he said the Federal Government had transferred the land to the Punjab government without any cost as the state land would be used by a state organisation for the public welfare project.
The establishment of Metro bus depot near Metro bus route would help save fuel, he added.
