RAWALPINDI: Finding the water leakage on the elevated track of the metro bus service and the stations a serious issue, the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Saturday directed the contractors to plug the leaking points before the monsoon rains.

Due to the use of substandard material and engineering flaws, water leakage in the elevated track and bus stations from Saddar Rawalpindi to Islamabad has been a problem since the service was inaugurated last year. After the opening of the metro bus service in June 2015, the monsoon rains of last year exposed the poor workmanship on the track.

Later, the then commissioner Rawalpindi, Zahid Saeed, directed the contractors to repair all the leaking points. However, after Mr Saeed was promoted as the chief secretary, the contractors and the RDA slowed down the pace of work.

Still in many points of the track such as Chandni Chowk, Liaquat Bagh, Marrir Hassan, Pakistan Secretariat-II, Waris Khan, Faizabad, Shamsabad and 6th Road, one can see water leakages at different points.

On Saturday, RDA chief engineer Athar Hussain Bukhari called a meeting of the contractors and Nespak officials to review the work and complete it before the forthcoming monsoon.

The chief engineer directed the construction companies to complete the repair and maintenance work without further delay.

The meeting also discussed arrangements for proper lighting at Rialto Chowk underpass. Officials told the meeting that they were in contact with the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) which would provide the electricity connection in the underpass soon.

Mr Bukhari said about 95pc of the additional and repair work on the track had been completed. He ordered the officials concerned to finish the remaining work on a priority basis.

Mr Bukhari told Dawn that the RDA was supervising the repair and maintenance work being carried out by the contractors. “No additional fund has been provided to the contractors as under the agreement it was their responsibility to carry out the repair and finishing work.”

He said to plug the leakages on the elevated track and bus stations, imported material was now being used instead of the traditional cemented plaster. He said work on the track was in full swing and would be completed before the monsoon.

The chief engineer also said four to five elevators remained closed and the contractor concerned had been warned to put all of them in running condition without wasting time.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2016