PM directs CDA to start Islamabad metro bus

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to operationalise the metro bus service from Peshawar Mor to Islamabad on April 16.

The premier also ordered an inquiry into the delay in the launch of the project for the last four years. He directed the officials concerned to make TORs of the inquiry to assess the reasons for the delay that led to the loss of national wealth.

The prime minister visited the Peshawar Mor metro bus station early in the morning and reviewed the on-ground progress of the project.

The Islamabad metro bus service was launched by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 2017 and was due to become functional in 2018.

PM Shehbaz Sharif directed the authorities concerned to run the metro bus service from Peshawar More to the Islamabad International Airport to facilitate the passengers to and from the airport. He also ordered carrying out a feasibility study for two additional routes from Rawat and Bhara Kahu connecting the airport.

He directed the setting up of a metro bus station on the motorway for better connectivity and to enhance the benefit of the service to a maximum number of people.

Shehbaz Sharif expressed dismay over the delay in the materialisation of the project, terming it severe negligence as Rs16 billion had been spent on the mega project of public importance. He termed it unfair towards the general public whose tax money had been consumed, however, the facility, in return, was being denied to them.

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The prime minister suggested ensuring the installation of racks in the buses to accommodate the luggage of passengers en route to the airport. He directed running free-of-cost service for a trial period until the installation of ticketing machines.

PM Shehbaz Sharif after assuming his office on April 11 had ordered to make operational the Islamabad metro bus service within five days. The leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Ahsan Iqbal, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Hanif Abbasi, and Anjum Aqeel accompanied the prime minister during the visit.

National Highway Authority and CDA officials briefed the prime minister about the project. It was highlighted that initially 30 buses would be run on the 24-kilometre-long track from Peshawar More to the Islamabad International Airport. Fifteen buses will be taken from Punjab Mass Transit Authority, Rawalpindi, till the new fleet was added to Islamabad metro service.

The prime minister was informed that the CDA was temporarily operating on behalf of the government, while a separate Metro Bus Authority was required to be formulated.

A shuttle service will be run on a stretch of 11 kilometres. Later, in a tweet, Shehbaz Sharif said the mass transit systems were the way forward to provide citizens with dignified, inexpensive, and environment-friendly transport services.

With additional input from APP

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2022.