PESHAWAR, Jan 15: The introduction of CNG buses planned to be on the city roads from mid-January has been delayed at least for a month.

District Nazim Ghulam Ali is optimistic about its launching from mid-February, but it seems unlikely because the contractor has so far not acquired land for setting up CNG filling stations and bus stands in Hayatabad and near the general bus stand. The nazim told Dawn that the Bank of Khyber would provide 50 per cent of the amount to the contractor at 14 per cent mark-up for purchasing 100 buses.

He said that as per agreement, the contractor was bound to make 100 buses available but it would not be possible for the time being and initially 35 buses would be brought on the roads.

Following an agreement with a private firm, Gul and Co, the nazim had inaugurated a bus in October 2007 and had given three months to the contractor for bringing the buses on the roads.

A source closed to the firm said contracts were yet to be signed with manufacturers, most probably in China, and it would take months to bring the buses on the roads.