RAWALPINDI: The Command and Control Centre (CCC) of metro bus is likely to become operational by March.

The bus service, however, will be launched in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad by January end.

Seven storey building housing command and control offices is being constructed in Saddar near Flasman’s Hotel.

It was supposed to complete in December but due to slow pace of work, the contractor has been able to construct ground floor. Total cost of the building is Rs440 million and it is being constructed on four kanal land.

The cost of the building was included in Rs44.21 billion, the total cost of the project.

A senior official of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) told Dawn that the building should have been handed over to Metro Bus Authority (MBA) Lahore for the installation of equipment.

Command and control building being constructed in Saddar

However, he said the construction work on the building would continue after the start of metro bus service. The command and control centre would be established in another building or in the ground floor of the under-construction building.

He said the building would also have space where metro bus passengers can park their vehicles. Three floors would be allocated for the parking of private vehicles.

“Close Circuit TV (CCTV) Cameras will be installed on the route of the metro bus service, which would be monitored at the center,” he said.

He said the metro buses would come on road by end of January and the CCC would be operational by March.

Till then a makeshift CCC will be set up in any other building or the ground floor of the under construction building, he said. When contacted, Commissioner Zahid Saeed admitted that the construction of command and control building might complete in March when metro bus service would have been operational.

He said he visited the site on Friday and decided at a meeting that the makeshift control room would be established in RDA offices. Replying to a question, he expressed the hope that the construction work on elevated route would be completed in stipulated time frame.

He said that the work on package-V (Parade Lane) in Islamabad had gained momentum after the end of Imran Khan’s sit-in.

Published in Dawn December 20th , 2014