LAHORE, June 22: As the Punjab government plans to initiate construction work for launching the metro bus system (MBS) in three cities of the province during fiscal year 2013-14, the engineering experts have formally started surveys in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan, Dawn has learnt.

Former Lahore Transport Company (LTC) chairman Khwaja Ahmad Hassan has been entrusted with the task to get the surveys and designs conducted and proposals submitted to the government in order to start construction work on time.

“Since we plan construction of MBS in three cities on the pattern of Lahore, we have got started mandatory survey,” Hassan told Dawn on Saturday.

Asked about allocation of budget for MBS in the fiscal 2013-14, he said the Rs3 billion subsidy for the public transport sector in the province also included the initial cost of the MBS in three cities. “A full-fledged budget for MBS will be allocated after submission of detailed design and technical and financial proposals.” Talking about proposed routes, he said the service might be launched at Faizabad to Islamabad in Rawalpindi, Khanewal Road in Multan and Jhang Road in Faisalabad.

The former LTC chairman said 19 articulated buses were likely to reach Lahore from China by middle of next month that would be inducted in the existing 45 buses fleet of the MBS.

RESTRUCTURING: The provincial government plans to hire professionals in its various public-sector autonomous agencies.

According to a senior official, the professionals will be hired to head the bodies in order to improve their performance.