Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project Chairman Hanif Abbasi said on Tuesday that the work on welfare-oriented project is going at a fast pace and would be completed within the stipulated time.
“Metro Bus Project is a public welfare project and every effort is being made to ensure it is completed as per quality and schedule,” said Abbasi.
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.
Abbasi said that the project would be an example of speedy, transparent and high standard work and its successful launching would silence its critics. He said that with the launching of the service, the temporary inconvenience of citizens in the twin cities would change into a permanent relief.
“The project will be state-of-the-art in every respect and it will bring about a revolutionary change in the transport system,” he added.
He said that the site for metro bus service depot had been acquired near Peshawar Morr. “The depot, costing Rs 1.5 billion will be constructed in a record time of four months,” he maintained.
Abbasi said the Metro Bus Depot Project would involve construction of parking plazas, building works, roads, drainage and ancillary works. He said pre-qualification of contractors for the purpose had already been announced.
“It has been decided to carry out round the clock work on the depot to execute the project well in time,” Abbasi said.
To a question, he said that land acquiring process for setting up 10 bus terminals for the Metro bus was underway. These terminals would be set up at Flashman Hotel Cantonment, Mareer Hassan, Liaquat Bagh, Committee Chowk, Waris Khan, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rehmanabad, Sixth Road, Shamsabad and Faizabad.
“The terminals will have escalators and lifts for senior citizens and special persons,” Abbasi added.
