New transport culture in the making: CM

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that provincial government is introducing a new transport culture in the shape of metro bus service. Addressing the meeting held to review the progress on the project of the bus service, he said through the new service, the commuters would not only get rid of uncomfortable and old traveling means but would also reach their destination on time through rapid and comfortable transport.
He said the work was being done speedily and this project was a revolutionary and would help transform the public transport system according to international standard.
Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan, Vice Chairman Mehr Ishtiaq Ahmad, Metro Bus Authority Head Sibtain Fazl-e-Haleem, Planning and Development chairman, provincial secretaries, LDA DG and other officers attended the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz said the project reflected the public service vision of Punjab government.
He said under this vision, government resources were being utilised for improving the condition of common man and the development work on the first phase of 32 kilometer long metro bus service project from Gajumata to Shahdra was being carried out speedily.
The CM said the bus stops of metro bus service had been set keeping in view the needs of the passengers where level boarding will be arranged for the disabled and old age passengers. He said the passengers would feel comfort due to facility of fan, potable water and clean toilets on these bus stops.
Terming the project of metro bus service a great cultural change in public transport system in Pakistan, Shahbaz directed that the provision of facility of escalators for disabled passengers should also be considered.
He said the air-conditioned bus service in the hot weather of Punjab was not less than a blessing for citizens. He said that the uncomfortable traveling means like motorcycle rickshaws and old buses were against human dignity therefore, comfortable and rapid public transport of international standard was being introduced for commuters.
The CM said women, students, disabled and common man would benefit equally from this facility. He said due to the high standard of metro bus service, the people belonging to elite segment will also prefer to travel with common man in these buses as this service will be rapid, comfortable and reliable.
Shahbaz directed that beautiful landscaping should be done on the routes. He said due to use of horticulture expertise, the concrete structure will give an eye-catching look naturally. Earlier, representative of NESPAK Azhar Masood informed the meeting about various technical aspects of metro bus service.