ISLAMABAD: A visit to the newly constructed I.J Principal Underpass and metro bus station is an interesting experience. Not only is a beautiful underpass but also provides visitors with a refresher course in Pakistan Studies.

This is the first metro bus station in Islamabad when approaching on the Metro Bus from Rawalpindi. Due to its location at the junction of IJ Principal Road and 9th Avenue, an underpass has also been constructed for pedestrians to cross the busy IJ Principal Road.

Twenty-five portraits of notable men and women, who participated in the Pakistan movement, don the walls of this long underpass. Under each portrait, there is a brief introduction. Among the portraits are those of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Fatima Jinnah and Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan.

“Since the walk through the underpass is about 150 feet with walls on either side, we decided to make the walk interesting. Now, one can learn from these walls,” said Hanif Abbasi, chairman Rawalpindi Islamabad Metro Bus Implementation Committee “We intend to name this station and the underpass, ‘Pakistan Underpass’ and ‘Pakistan Station’,” he said.

IJP metro bus station decorated with portraits of personalities from Pakistan movement

He said idea of putting up portraits on the walls of the underpass was collectively developed by officials of Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and by the contractor Habib Construction when the Azadi Chowk Underpass in Lahore was under construction.

Mr Abbasi said portraits will also be put up at a station near 6th Road in Rawalpindi, as it is frequented by students. He said Habib Construction has been asked to arrange tiles for the station at 6th road as well.

There is a long walk up the stairs and like others stations escalators will be installed here, for passengers to ascend to ground level. But stairs will have to be used to descend from ground level to the station. At 10 meters, the IJP escalator is the longest installed at any metro bus station in the city.

“This escalator will provide pedestrians an enjoyable joyride to the ground level,” quipped a worker, putting finishing touches on the ceramic tiles at the station.

Taking a break from the work, he said the finishing touches are most important part of a construction job. “If a wall is slightly titled, hardly anyone would notice but even if there is an extra millimetre between two tiles, everyone would see it,” he said. He said that the colour of the tiles is also very important in a public place.

The colour of the ceramic tiles has been finalised after long discussions between RDA officials, officials in Lahore who had been involved in the construction of the Lahore metro bus and the contractors. The contractor, Habib Construction, decided to import the tiles from United Arab Emirates. These tiles are more affordable than locally produced tiles and also have a longer lifespan.

“Tiles at public places need frequent washing and cleaning as people vandalise them with spray paint and also stick posters and flyers on them,” said an employee of a construction company.

While construction work at the IJP station appears to be nearly complete, it is unlikely to meet the February 28 deadline set by the authorities. The main hurdle is a 12 inch gas pipeline passing through the place where one of the escalators is to be installed.

Technical experts at the site said that after the pipeline is moved, it will take two weeks to install the escalator and test it. It will also take over two weeks for the sub-contractors installing glass panels at the waiting areas, to finish their job.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2015

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