Mass transit nightmare continues

Government’s lackadaisical approach means new projects are at a standstill

PESHAWAR: Seeing the city pass you by from the window of a comfortable, state-of-the-art bus or train has become a distant dream for the city’s inhabitants.

The PTI-led government has yet to show any progress in the mass transit project or bus service initiative since it seized the reins in 2013.

The decades-old, rusty and almost decaying vehicles – commonly known to Peshawarites as ‘Bara buses’ – will continue to ply on roads for the foreseeable future. Citizens will have to rely on them for their daily commute as a new bus service is unlikely to see the light of day.

“Bureaucratic hurdles, political differences with the federal government, the machinations of the transport mafia and problems created by narrow roads are some of the major hindrances,” says a senior official, requesting anonymity.

After the railway ministry refused to provide its land for the Rapid Mass Transit project, the provincial government and its transport department was left with the option of launching a bus service.

“An MoU was signed with Belgian transport company, Bucephalus, in 2014,” an official of the transport department tells The Express Tribune. “The $200 million project was expected to be operational by June 2015.” A series of briefings were also given to PTI chief Imran Khan about the project.

However, the project is down in the doldrums owing to the slow pace of work.

The official reveals Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had given authorities the green signal to strike a deal with the Belgian company as soon as possible. The transport department also overcame a stay order imposed by the Peshawar High Court after transporters challenged the project.

“A file was prepared and sent to the transport secretary’s office in July,” the official says. “However, progress has not been made as the file has not been sent back.”

He adds it is the responsibility of the department to introduce a modern transport system.

“However, the department has failed to achieve this goal,” he says. “This has forced people to rely on old vehicles.” When contacted, Transport Director Manzoor Ahmad claimed the file has been sent to the secretary and work on both projects will start in the near future.

Narrow roads

Regional Transport Authority Secretary Naimatullah said the provincial government has decided to launch the projects on GT and Khyber roads.

However, senior officials of the department believe the schemes cannot be launched due to the heavy volume of traffic and lack of available space on roads of Peshawar.

“The existing roads can accommodate just 150,000 vehicles while more than 750,000 vehicles ply on them daily,” says SSP Traffic Wahid Mehmood.

He points out that the lack of an effective transport system has forced locals to buy their own vehicles. “This has added to traffic problems in the city,” he said. “The department has failed to give any short or long term alternative to the people for the last decade and a half,” Mehmood says.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17^th, 2015.