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ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to inaugurate the Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus service on April 30 so that the residents of the twin cities could travel on the buses on Labour Day.
The decision was taken at a review meeting of the metro bus project on Friday and the message of the Punjab chief minister and the prime minister was also conveyed to the participants.
“It is now official that the prime minister will inaugurate the bus service on April 30,” said Hanif Abbassi, the implementation committee chairman. “The time and spot for inauguration will be announced after security clearance,” he added.
The meeting held at the Convention Centre was attended by MNA Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, the project director, Commissioner Zahid Saeed, CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal, relevant officers and all the contractors of the project.
The sources said Mr Abbassi said the project would be a gift for the residents of the twin cities on the occasion of May 1, which is a national holiday too.
The 22.6-km-long metro bus route starts from Flashman’s Hotel, Mall Road Rawalpindi.
Since the work continues at the project from D-Chowk to Secretariat Blocks, the Bus service will initially operate up to China Chowk only.
Though the track of the bus service is almost ready, final touches are being given to the project.
Besides, several minor works still pending especially at the Peshawar Mor, including the access to the underground bus station there.
Meanwhile, talking to Dawn an official of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) said the only work remaining at several packages includes lane marking of roads, and other minor issues.
“These things will be done even after the bus service starts functioning – especially after 8 pm when the rush hours end,” the official added.
The other major issue was the water leakage from the roof of bus stations and the officials expect to cover this up with sealants as bus stations are made up of mostly glass panels.
Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2015
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Comments (50) Closed
Apr 18, 2015 10:29am
Excellent, something got built for the people and will make their life easy...
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Apr 18, 2015 10:38am
Expect a blast.
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Apr 18, 2015 11:16am
It is a project which is going to benefit hundreds of thousands of people daily and specially for our female passengers who had to bear a lot of indignity and hassle on overcrowded wagons. I urge government not to do anything in haste and finish the project in an orderly way and 01 may is not a holy grail. Main terminal at flashmams needs a lot of work and run the buses when all is good to go.people have bore the inconvenience for 10 months and one more will be o.k.
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Apr 18, 2015 11:25am
Are the rides free?
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Apr 18, 2015 11:30am
welldone PMLN
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Apr 18, 2015 11:58am
To our politicians , its not a gift to us , its being build through our money !!
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Apr 18, 2015 12:11pm
The huge amount spent on this project should have been utilized for production of electricity which could have been the source of income for many and would have also helped those faced with 20 hours a day load shedding.
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Apr 18, 2015 12:12pm
@Abdul Don't be pessimist.Appreciate the good work.What if nothing is built.Expect many more such projects to be added to our country.
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Apr 18, 2015 12:21pm
@fawad Not your money, you need to pay back all these loans worth billions of dollars with interest on time, don't live in self deception.
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Apr 18, 2015 12:29pm
oh Bus... i thought it is Rail.... okkk, not bad ,
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Apr 18, 2015 12:36pm
Real benefit will be known thousands and thousands who commute on Muree raod in jam packed wagons.... PML-n has done very good in their tenure to improve infrastructure which proves backbone of any economy.... They really have vision to take this country to glories...
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Apr 18, 2015 12:37pm
Progress =pmln
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Apr 18, 2015 01:16pm
@farrukh i agree, work is still left and must be completed before officially inaugurating it
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Apr 18, 2015 01:29pm
Yes people will benefit from it. I mean common people who travel by public transport. And those who travel in landcruiers Mercedes and bmws who never stepped inside a bus in their lives they got every reason to criticise like longer u turns environmental issues city divided into two etc etc..
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Apr 18, 2015 01:52pm
Government of PML N from Day one is launching projects which are not financially viable they are projects which require financial subsidy .In due course Metro will be give you the looks of Pakistan Railways or Pakistan Steel Mills .It is not able to sustain its financial weight .
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Apr 18, 2015 02:32pm
Infrastructure development is the key to progress. Good job! However, other areas like health, power generation, law & order needs a parallel focus.
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Apr 18, 2015 02:53pm
It's Bus or Metro Rail ? Ok Does not , matter
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Apr 18, 2015 03:05pm
PM inaugrating bus service...wow...in india local corporator or may be mayor inaugrates bus services...when will metro train start?
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Apr 18, 2015 04:06pm
Shame on this government neglecting the development of needy backward areas they are investing on areas already far better in development when it comes to other less developed areas. These are wrong priorities of this government and will not prove to be healthy on national level, and these buses will brushless.on next ten years if they wanted to build such project why theu did not pick metro train project instead of bits and calling it metro by fooling common ignorant illiterate people.
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Apr 18, 2015 04:07pm
@RAJENDRA JHARIYA it's a bus where are you seeing train in this.kindly read the news befir e any of your comment
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Apr 18, 2015 04:39pm
Prime minister inauguration of metro bus service is unbelievable. I think metro bus service is like some world class project in pakistan.
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Apr 18, 2015 05:07pm
Funny part; They take money from my pocket, keep half of it for their own children and then with the rest half they build a gift for me which is not my priority at all. Thanks but no thanks.
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Apr 18, 2015 05:24pm
@RAJENDRA JHARIYA it is bus service on a protected root. Buses ply almost every five minutes or so during busy hours. Nothing like your Dehli Metro rail. I enjoyed it in 2011.
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Apr 18, 2015 06:40pm
We should cooperate with India to have urban Metro rail technology in Pakistani cities. It will be great relieve to the people.
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Apr 18, 2015 06:49pm
and all the problems of illiteracy and poverty will be solved by this
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Apr 18, 2015 06:50pm
other local transport was sufficient
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Apr 18, 2015 07:30pm
Totally useless project. I am living on Adhyala road in Rawalpindi. What is benefit it is giving to me? Remember its cost is 50 Billion and it will give benefit to only resident of Murree Road which is about 2 to 3% of Total population of Raw/Isb. Also remember govt is giving subsidy about 2 billion to Lahore Metro Bus and will give this one too. Alas 50 billion would have been spent on Dams, Health, Education, Law & Order which are very very basic necessities of all citizens.
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Apr 18, 2015 08:54pm
Good, but at what cost more expensive then India, and Turkey, so someone has had big kick backs. But still nice at least we can see something built . Should we not spend on education first.
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Apr 18, 2015 11:49pm
think my fellow Indian citizens should restrain their caustic comments......any progress is welcome........hope Pakistan has more and better things to come.........we all live on the same planet and should be glad if progress happens for someone......by pulling each other down we only make humanity fall.......think about it......
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Apr 19, 2015 01:47am
Advanced coutries would build a subway to take the traffic off the roads. Pakistan on the other hand has to wait another 100 year to witness its first subway line.
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Apr 19, 2015 02:10am
@Abdul Someone in the neighbouring country is also planning this, they read the same news as us,and attack when anything good is shown in the media.
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Apr 19, 2015 03:04am
Has the Lahore metro project audit been completed? Or should I ask if it's even started?
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Apr 19, 2015 03:34am
Is any one worried for poor 20 million people of Karachi. Circular railway was discontinued.
Can't it be revived.
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Apr 19, 2015 03:46am
Request to PM and CM Sindh when Karachi have Metro when it is paying 90% Revenue and what a mess of traffic please something better transport system this unlucky city of world.
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Apr 19, 2015 03:52am
How good is this single lane route. Buses are bound to have mechanical issues and if one bus get stuck in middle can hold whole of one way. Also for population like these cities, the best option would have a metro rail.
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Apr 19, 2015 05:07am
@Rajendra in our case we have found bus to be much more cost effective and equally good as metro rail..u see unline many countries,,we have dedicated metro tracks
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Apr 19, 2015 05:08am
@gumsuda its starting this june, with lahore metro rail,,our metro bus tracks are pretty world class
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Apr 19, 2015 06:11am
The quality of road surface in sector F-8 and Blue Area is not good and the road dividers/retaining walls are irregular, these need to be checked and improved as this is a 50 billion rupees project even 4 times the price of new gawadar planned airport. Quality control is a must as this was all public money and if awarded to any foreign company would have been a master piece in quality
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Apr 19, 2015 06:34am
most important thing to need in pak is 24hour electricity..and the public need to pay the meter bill dont steal..all development will come automatically then..
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Apr 19, 2015 06:54am
It is a very good project but let us finish it now. No more delay otherwise the project will be counter productive politically; billions of Rs will be wasted and PML (N) reputation will be at stake.
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Apr 19, 2015 07:05am
I now live in a far-off country but still have nostalgic memories of Rawalpindi. While I am very happy on the Metro Transportation news, I would also be immensely happy if Governments of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif order for dredging of Nullah La-ee deep and thus rid the Gawalmandi (Darya Ganj) residents finally of the annual sufferings caused by floods.
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Apr 19, 2015 07:37am
interesting, people will be content with a bus and praise PML because they achieved a bus ride, lol, Modi signs nuclear deals and billion$$ trades and PML gives you a bus. Goodness gracious.
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Apr 19, 2015 07:39am
@Pramod It is a metro-rail. By choosing this route, they have destroyed the aesthetic beauty of the most beautiful roads of the twin cities. Big money will be made by 'big people' . They don't care if they put a junk of metal in the heart of the city, dividing it down the centre, creating traffic congestion and inconvenience for the businesses and shops along the way. They should, instead, have had modern, comfortable buses running at regular intervals along these and other important routes and built covered bus-stops for public convenience.
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Apr 19, 2015 08:59am
@gumsuda .....well said
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Apr 19, 2015 09:01am
There are huge challenge s also awaiting . Public need to use it like their own property .Security is also another challenge. Pakistan has long way to go still . Such a hype for small project .
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Apr 19, 2015 09:26am
Priority of the Federal Govt is totally wrong.Instead of going for expansive Metros,they should spend poor peoples money on Education, Health and Water sectors to improve life and to make available job oppourtunities.
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Apr 19, 2015 03:26pm
@Awais Ali Sour grapes for PTI followers I guess. You guys never appreciate any good thing done by PMLN but keep highlighting one flyover completed by PTI in Peshawar!!
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Apr 20, 2015 08:59am
Metro is by far the most horrible project that I have seen in Islamabad. A lot is being said about how "hundreds of thousands of people will benefit from it. The truth is , this project is an environmental disaster and a serious security hazard as now it's very safe to travel to Red Zone completely unchecked. And let us not forget the fact that it's the Metro that is stoned most whenever there are protests. It's a poorly conceived and executed project and was carried out only for "kick-backs" and "publicity"
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Apr 20, 2015 02:25pm
And when will the adjoining roads be completed and open? If you see the feasibility for this project it is not self sustainable. It will require constant government funding to operate effectively. I'm not against people getting jobs or good transport but we also dont need another white elephant.
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Apr 20, 2015 08:42pm
@RAJENDRA JHARIYA ,,it's bus sir! metro train and Pakistan, how come. We've even spoiled British given railways.
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