RAWALPINDI: Construction work on the Peshawar Mor Interchange worth Rs 6.197 billion, a main component of the Metro Bus Project will be delayed by one month, However, the corridor for the bus service is likely to be completed by January 2015.

This conveyed by the contractor National Logistic Cell (NLC) to Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) in a meeting held on Saturday.

The meeting was held to review the work on two packages in Rawalpindi (from Committee Chowk to 6th Road) and from I.J.P Road to Centaures Mall in Islamabad.

Commissioner Rawalpindi and Metro Bus Project Director Zahid Saeed, former MNA Hanif Abbasi, Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Shoaib Khurram, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Chief Engineer Saeed Akhtar, Project Manager NESPAK, Brig (R) Shahid from NLC and others attended the meeting.

RDA expressed concern over the slow pace of work on two packages of Metro Bus Project under NLC and asked the officials to speed up the work to meet the deadline fixed by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

However, the NLC officials blamed the political sit-ins and the closure of roads by the government in the last two months as the reason for delay and said that work will be completed soon on the underpass. They said that work on Peshawar Mor Interchange has been delayed due to technical issues.

Former MNA of PML-N Hanif Abbasi stressed upon the importance of speedy work and urged the contractor to work day and night.

He said when there is no physical impediment in the way of work, it should not be delayed. “We must increase the pace of work, in order to reduce the difficulties of traders and general public,” he said. He said that the contractor was very slow in putting up girders.

In consultation with Chief Traffic Office, it was decided that putting up of girders will be done between 8:00 pm to 7:00 am. It will also be carried out during day time on Fridays and Sundays. CTO Rawalpindi assured Traffic Police’s full support in execution of girder work by managing traffic on the route. Contractors also assured that they will complete the work in time. 

Talking to Dawn after the meeting, Commissioner Rawalpindi and Metro Bus Project Director Zahid Saeed said that the Peshawar Mor Interchange was merged in Metro Bus Project but it was a separate project.

He said that total length of the interchange was 14 kilometer including ramps, flyovers and loops.

“The contractor will complete the corridor for metro bus but it will take one month more to complete the interchange,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2014