The multi-billion state-of-the-art Metro Bus project for the twin cities, Rawalpindi and Islamabad, is going to be inaugurated on May 09, by the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as the contractors have been asked to finalize the work as soon as possible.
Sources both in Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) told Business Recorder that preparations are in full swing for the inauguration ceremony of the much-delayed project.
The project, which has already faced delay of more than three months, would transport public from Flashman's Hotel Chowk, Rawalpindi via Murree Road to Pak Secretariat, Islamabad, covering a total distance of about 23 kilometres. According to the authorities associated with the project, the metro bus track in Rawalpindi has almost been completed and the buses are on test run from Flashman Hotel to I-9/I-8 (Potohwar Stop) in Islamabad. The project managers have arranged rehearsal for more than 20 buses for Sunday (today) to start from Flashman's Hotel Chowk and end on the 9th Avenue of the Capital city.
The authorities said that the project was delayed due to the construction work at Peshawar Morr Interchange and Pak Secretariat station, which is the final destination of the metro bus. The authorities further said that the work on Peshawar Morr Interchange will continue, but carpeting of the metro route is almost complete. It was also noticed during a survey that the workers are still busy in finishing the track on many locations at Peshawar Morr Interchange.
Similarly, the work on Pak Secretariat Station is also yet to be completed but the authorities said that the buses will make final stop at D-Chowk till completion of the work. There is still some work like decorating the metro track and installation of electric equipment on some stations, but the carpeting of the track from Flashman's Hotel till D-Chowk has almost completed, authorities mentioned.
A central control system would monitor the metro bus service and according to the authorities modern facilities would be provided to commuters such as parking and providing electronic tickets. An official of the RDA told this scribe that a total of 64 buses would ply on the metro bus route between twin cities and 24 modern bus stations have been built for this purpose.
In Rawalpindi, he said that a total 10 bus stations have been set up at Murree Road while 14 others have been constructed at different locations of the Islamabad. Starting from Flashman's Hotel on Mall Road in Rawalpindi, the metro bus will follow the route from Murree Road to Faizabad and then turn towards the IJP Road up to 9th Avenue. On the 9th Avenue, it will turn right on Jinnah Avenue up to the end of Blue Area from where a connection to Pak Secretariat stop will be provided through the open space behind old Parade Avenue to reach the final destination through underpasses.
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