A senate panel has decided to take joint briefing from three different bodies over delay in the establishment of Capital Mass Transit Authority (CMTA).
The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning was held under the chairmanship of Senator Agha Shahzaib on Thursday.
The participants were informed that CMTA would be established to run the metro bus service between Islamabad International Airport (IIA) and Peshawar Morr.
The committee took notice of the delay in the project of the metro bus service extension to IIA as well as an increase in its cost.
The panel decided to take a joint briefing on the project from the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Ministry of Communications and Planning Division.
The committee chairman blamed that any of the three bodies were responsible for the delay in the establishment of the CMTA.
He added that a sub-committee would be formed after the joint briefing that would investigate the whole matter.
Other members expressed disappointment over the delay in the project and expressed that the ownership of the project has not been decided yet. They asserted that this would trigger more problems after the completion of the project.
Senator Shahzaib said that it was an extremely sensitive matter and its investigation was mandatory.
The committee members were informed that the 25.6 kilometre (km) long route from IIA to Peshawar Morr was still under construction.
CDA officials apprised that the National Highway Authority (NHA) was tasked to build the road estimated to cost Rs16.4 billion.
The related officials assured the panel that the basic infrastructure would be completed next month. However, it would take long to make the project completely functional and provision of other services.
Presently, people commuting between the federal capital and IIA have to pay Rs1,200 to Rs2,500 to taxis. A suitable public transport would reduce the daily expenses of people working at the airport.
The committee also learned that legislation for the establishment of CMTA was under consideration while it would also encourage investments from the private sector.
The committee was also informed about the development projects underway in Balochistan under alternative energy policy 2019.
Meanwhile, NHA Chairman Sikander Qayyum visited the Metro Bus project from Peshawar Morr to IIA accompanied by senior officers of the NHA.
The representatives of contractors and consultants were also present.
Additional manpower has been sanctioned to help complete the construction of an extension to the metro bus project in the federal capital, from Peshawar Morr to the IIA, officials told Qayyum.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 21st, 2020.
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