PESHAWAR: The public hearing on environmental and social impact assessment (EIA) of the proposed Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme turned into smooth sailing for the project managers as both the civil society and media overlooked the event.

The event held in Nishtar Hall was attended by officials of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Peshawar Development Authority, police and a large number of the would-be affected people.

However, absence of civil society and media made the job of project managers easy as little was discussed about the environmental and social impacts of the scheme on the city’s bourgeoning population while the would-be affected people mostly kept themselves to push officials to give definite answers to their business-related questions.

No senior official of traffic police considered it worthwhile to attend the event and share traffic plan for the project, which involves digging up 26 kilometres of the main road from one end of the city to the other end. A junior woman officer, deputed to represent traffic police, despite nudging by the participants did not share with them the plan to address the issue of possible traffic mess.

Civil society, media ignore event

A four-page Urdu pamphlet titled “Environmental and social impact assessment” was shared with the participants of the event.

Dr Mohammad Bashir Khan, the director general of EPA, opened the hearing. He said that EIA was legal necessity and it was aimed at including their views in project proposals.

Dr Bashir said that the project would have both permanent and temporary effects on the city. He said that initially citizens would have to face traffic congestion, dust and other problems, however, after completion the project would lead to decrease the number of private cars in the city.

Adil Riaz, the project design engineering, said the scheme was divided into three stages. The first stage covers area from Chamkani to Firdous Chowk, the second stage from Firdous to Amn Chowk and third stage from Amn Chowk to the end point in Hayatabad.

Mr Riaz said that the BRT elevated portion would start from Malik Saad Flyover and another lane would be added to the flyover to accommodate other vehicles. The elevated portion would pass through Soekarno Square and Shoba Bazaar, where near BRT track would be diverted to Sher Shah Suri Road through an overhead portion linking both the roads. The elevated portion from there runs through Sunehri Masjid Road to reach Khadim Hussain Road.

The proposed corridor would again turn to ground level near Peshawar Garrison Club and the BRT corridor would pass underground near Amn Chowk to give way to airport-bound vehicles.

The floor was opened for questions when Abid Zareef Khan, a participant, objected to the endless array of presentations.

Mr Zareef asked the officials to explain as to how they were planning to complete such a mega project within six months. “Back in 2007, you people took two and half years to complete over a kilometre long GT Road flyover,” he said.

At around 1pm most of the participants started to leave the hall saying that they would return after offering prayers but the organisers told them the EIA was over.

Khurram Arsalan, a participant, told Dawn that the pamphlets and presentation needed more factual orientation and details.

He said that the officials should have turned up with more details and answers to the questions of participants while some of the officials left the event halfway, indicating ill-planning. He said that concerns of the would-be affected people were not addressed.

“In order to control traffic mess during the construction, government should introduce free bus rides for commuters that will bring down number of rickshaws and private cars, thus would ease traffic problems,” said Mr Arsalan.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2017