Pindi plans feeder buses along Metrobus routes

Punjab government unveils plans for road network enhancements

RAWALPINDI:

The Punjab government has decided to operate feeder buses on the Metrobus service routes between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, upgrade the road network and spend one per cent of the overall cost of each development project on the plantation.

The decisions were taken at a meeting which reviewed the road network of the Rawalpindi district. Provincial Minister for Communications and Works Malik Sohaib Bharat presided over the meeting held at the Rawalpindi Commissioner's Office. The meeting was attended by local parliamentarians and heads of relevant government institutions.

The minister said that the means of transportation and road network played a very important role in maintaining the economic system of any country, adding the priority of the government was to complete major roads in the first phase and link roads in the second phase.

The provincial minister emphasised the public representatives to prioritise the completion of schemes in their respective constituencies, where work has progressed significantly. The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) should activate such filtration plants and tube wells where the water is available.

He ordered to ensure the utilisation of 1% of the funds of each project on plantations keeping in view the environmental pollution and elimination of encroachments from the city through a systematic plan. Bharat asked the officials to take the people's representatives on board on all development schemes.

In a briefing, the Rawalpindi Commissioner requested the MPAs to provide temporary transfer stations to ensure cleanliness in their respective constituencies. He informed the minister that 314 schemes have been added to the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the fiscal year 2023-24. The schemes include 227 ongoing and 87 new schemes. As many as 28 schemes have been completed while work on the rest is in progress. About 87% of funds have been utilised from the released funds.

The meeting was told that 30% of the work on the Rawalpindi Ring Road is complete, the revamp of Holy Family Hospital will be done by May 20, Liaquat Bagh Library has been upgraded to an e-library, and 78 feeder bus services are being started in the city to make full use of the Metrobus. The feeder buses will cover 80% of the city and will transport passengers from all parts of the city to the Metrobus stations.

Published in The Express Tribune May 10^th, 2024.