Thursday brought yet another promise about the ever-elusive bus service in the capital — this time by Prime Minister (PM) Yousaf Raza Gilani.
But he too avoided setting any deadline for the project as he negotiated a question raised during the National Assembly question answer session on Thursday.
In his written statement, PM Gilani said that the procurement of buses is ready and a statement regarding this would be shortly issued.
“CDA would ensure that the project is handled in a transparent manner and in accordance with the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority’s (PRRA) rules,” he stated.
The service will be launched in phases and will be run on CNG.
In the first phase the buses would ply on two routes: route 1 will be Karal Chowk to the Secretariat via Murree Road, while Karal Chowk to Ibn-e-Seena Road, G-11 via the Islamabad Highway, will be the second route.
Route I would cover Karal, Khana Pull, Faizabad, Margalla Town, ERRA, Rawal Chowk, Islamabad Club, Serena Hotel, Aabpara, 7th Avenue near CDA Exit Blue Area, Shaheed-e-Millat Road, Express Chowk (Jinnah Avenue) and Ayub Chowk (Ataturk Avenue) Secretariat. Route II covers the Karal-Khanna Pull, Faizabad, I-8 Stop, G-8, PIMS, Tipu Chowk, 9th Avenue Chowk, F-9 Park, G-10, F-10 round about, Ibn-e-Seena Road, G-10 and G-11.
Previously CDA shelved the proposed project of a Rapid Mass Transit System and decided to launch a CNG Bus Service instead.
“It is our responsibility to provide safe, affordable and decent transport system to the people.
“We are working very seriously on the project. The service would be run on a non-profit basis,” said CDA Chairperson Imtiaz Inayat Elahi.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2011.
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