PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has approved the operational and business plan for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and directed the Finance Department to release 50% out of the Rs 2 billion budget for the land acquisition at the main terminal of BRT at Chamkani.
He was presiding over a meeting on the Bus Rapid Transit at Chief Minister Secretariat in Peshawar. The meeting was attended by relevant officials. The meeting had a detailed discussion on different requirements for the BRT and made a number of decisions to put its whole structure on the ground in stipulated time.
The CM directed for accelerated pace of work on different packages under the timeline. He added that the government could no longer afford any delay or changes in the existing sketch and structure of the BRT. He said that the project would be a single solution to all traffic congestions in Peshawar city.
Pervez Khattak said that with the BRT, there would be a shift from the old transportation industry to a new 21st-century transport facility in the shape of rapid bus transit in Peshawar. He warned against any delay, adding that the technical, operational and business plan should be completed immediately, in order to facilitate the timely launch of the project.
He also assured compensation to all affectees of the BRT. He further directed that the finalised work should be put for the tendering process to facilitate the mobilisation of contractors and the initiation of practical work on the project. He also assured that the provincial government would provide additional resources if required in the process of land acquisition.
The participants of the meeting were briefed about different features and nature of works on the four packages of the RBT. The first package is from Chamkani to Qilla Bala Hisar, the second to Aman Chowk and the third would end at Hayatabad. The 4th package included the commercial and parking plazas at Chamkani, Dabgari and Hayatabad. There would be nine-meter buses off the corridor on the ten feeding routes and twelve-meter buses on the main corridor. The presentation also included possible fares, business model, the fare collectors and the fund manager under the business model. It was also indicated that at present, there are 1300 employees; the number would be increased to 3650, for security and main corridor cleaning etc.
The presentation also focused on the stops, stations and other allied features under the new system.
