Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak Pervez Khattak has approved Rs 193 million compensation for the affectees of Bus Rapid Transit project. He directed the shifting and relocation of utilities on fast track at the main corridor. He also directed to raise greenery on the main corridor. He also directed that the main corridor would be the same presently used by commercial vehicles.
The CM was presiding over a meeting of the Board of Directors of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Urban Mobility Authority here at Chief Minister Secretariat Peshawar. The chief minister directed the hiring of the necessary staff required for the construction work for the authority and its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
The meeting was attended by Minister Transport Shah Muhammad Wazir, Advisor to Chief Minister Mushtaq Ghani, MPA Mehmood Jan, Chairman Chief Minister’s Complaint Cell Haji Dilroz Khan, Chief Secretary Abid Saeed, ACS Azam Khan and administrative secretaries. The meeting had a detailed discussion on the different decisions of the previous board of directors and approved the previous decisions and expressed satisfaction over the process of implementation on these decisions. The project had three packages the first starts from the main bus terminal Chamkani to Qila Balahisar, the second towards Aman Chowk and the third ends at Hayatabad. The meeting approved the three packages with minor amendments in the construction plan.
The CM directed that the minor changes in the original design of the rapid bus transit route should not hinder the timely completion of the whole project. He directed for accelerated efforts for the timely implementation and completion of the project adding that the project was his passion and he would not compromise on it and would never allow any delay whatsoever. He agreed to the third party validation of the original design prepared by Asian Development Bank.
The meeting was briefed about the process of implementation with special reference to the engineering designs, colour combination, the width and length and the proposed widening of the bus stations. The meeting was also briefed about the project’s uniqueness as being the direct service operational model with main corridors length as 26 KM including the 6 KM elevated and 5 KM tunnel having 32 bus stations and integrating 68 KM feeding routes that the chief minister approved.
He also approved 150 shelters at the feeder routes, six storey commercial and parking plazas, the bike sharing system and the allied infrastructure for pedestrians and other associated features as part of the project. He drew a comparison between Peshawar Rapid Bus Transit with those in Punjab and Islamabad adding that it would be a sustainable project generating resources and would become a self sustaining and profitable project that would make Peshawar Rapid Bus Transit unique in features and facilities the world over. It would be the first ever golden standard third generation bus rapid system and its 26 KM long main corridor would cost Rs 33 billion. It costs per kilometer as Rs 1.27 billion as compared to Multan costing Rs 29 billion per kilometer Rs 1.566 and its length is 18.2 kilometers. Peshawar Rapid Bus Transit cost is 23pc less than the Multan and the Islamabad Metro Bus cost is Rs 50 billion with its corridor as 23.2 km long with Rs 2.155 billion per kilometer and is 70pc higher than Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit and the Lahore Metro cost is Rs 60 billion, as 27 km long with Rs 2.222 billion per km and 75pc higher than Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit.
The chief minister also approved the architectural plan and the colour combination of the BRT and added that the commercial activities that were parts of the projects would make this BRT a self sustaining and profitable project. He directed the police, C&W, irrigation and other departments to hold a meeting, identify their responsibilities and ensure that they have done it within time.
Pervez Khattak directed to hire the required number of officials for the implantation phase of the project that should be followed by the hiring of operational personnel. He directed to prepare a financial model by the end of July adding that the financial model should also identify the way out for operational cost and the return of the principal amount adding that it would be a zero level subsidized project and directed to prepare the complete feasibility before May 15.
He agreeing to other prerequisites of the projects, directed to give final touches to the PC-1 of the project and send it for CDWP for clearance adding that he would personally talk to the relevant quarters for its approval.
Pervez Khattak also okayed the construction plan of the shopping and parking plazas, the overall traffic diversion plan and the dates of the tendering. He directed to float the tenders on April 30. However, the tenders for the two packages should appear on April 15 and the third one by the April 30.
The meeting approved the relocation of utilities and the widening of corridor and 31 bus stations for the BRT. The Chief Minister directed to strengthen the existing infrastructure that might be partially shared by BRT. He also okayed the transfer of land in Hayatabad, Dabgari Garden, Bus Station etc. He directed to acquire land of 117 kanal in the main bus terminal at Chamkani for the first phase out of the total 900 kanal of land identified by the main bus terminal Chamkani. He directed for the transparent compensation and approved realistic elevation of bridges for the BRT.
Meanwhile, the chief minister declared the greater Peshawar Circular Railway Project as the project for the future generation. He directed that it should have all the prerequisites and the facilities to be required in future. This he said during a presentation at Chief Minister Secretariat Peshawar. The participants were briefed about the pace of progress on the proposed project. The project would have two phases, the eastern and the western. The first would cover Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda and back and the second phase would link it to Swabi at Kornal Sher Khan Interchange on the motorway and Dargai.
Addressing the participants, the CM said he was for investment for projects in the province adding that he would not recommend any project that might over burden the financial health of the province. He said that it was part of the CPEC. However, the provincial government would also market it in the road show in Beijing (China).
Pervez Khattak was very much particular about the element of time and its importance, adding that the commuters would never compromise on the facilities and the timely availability of transportation. They would take the first available facility to take them to their destination in future. This project was designed for the central districts of the province which would integrate the whole province and this model could be extended and replicated in other regions with due course of time. It is not the end but the beginning for the efficient travelling facilities, he added. He said his government was designing it for the whole of the province and which would be easy and durable. He directed for necessary training for the implementation and subsequent operation phases. He said it is a project for the better future of the province and was prepared in this context. He directed to start the land acquisition and also look to the available rail infrastructure whether it can be used by the provincial government for this project or we would lay down a separate infrastructure for the greater Peshawar railway track project, he added.
