Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project Chairman Hanif Abbasi has said that government is going to implement Rawat to Abpara Metro Bus project in the next phase, following which a Metro Bus project will be set up from Taxila to Islamabad.
Talking to a private news channel Friday, Abbasi said that the government is focusing on alternative routes and will repair the destroyed routes.
To a question, he said Metro Bus Project was delayed due to “confusion and turmoil in the country due to protest sit-ins”. However, even then the project will be completed by January 30, 2015 which is the “actual deadline for the project, he added.
“The cost of the project has not increased and we will save money from the allocated funds of Rs44 billion for the purpose,” he said, adding that eleven roads have been made signal free through the project.
“This project will have no effect on the master plan of Islamabad nor will it reduce the city’s greenery,” said Abbasi, adding that 1 percent of the project is being spent on greenery.
“Initially, the project was designed only for Islamabad but later the government extended it to Rawalpindi and this project has ensured 24-kilometer-long signal-free travelling to the commuters,” he said, adding that the project will benefit 160,000 people daily because it has linked the entire city, Murree Road, Sector G-9 and Industrial Area.
More than 5,000 salesmen of Blue Area will also be benefited and sale at business centres at Blue Area will increase manifold after the completion of the project, he added.
We will provide honourable journey to the poor at the cost of Rs20 instead of the earlier cost of Rs60 for travelling between Islamabad and Rawalpindi, he said.
To another question, he dismissed rumours that the property of traders was usurped for the project.