RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Wednesday kicked off the repair and rehabilitation works at the Sixth Road Metro Bus Station, which is likely to be finished by the end of December and cost about Rs99 million.

The 6th Road Metro Bus Station was ransacked by protesters on May 9 after the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan. In addition to causing severe damage to the facilities at the metro station, they had also set it on fire.

Accordingly, a committee was constituted by the Rawalpindi commissioner to inspect the Metro Bus stations damaged during the May 9 incidents and furnish an inspection report. The inspection committee submitted its report on May 14. Based on the inspection report, the Punjab Masstransit Authority (PMA) approached the RDA with a request for the restoration of the 6th Road Metro Bus Station.

After a months-long delay, the repair finally kicked off. Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha visited the metro station and reviewed the progress. Speaking on the occasion, the official said that the repair work, which had been stalled for six months, has now started. He directed the officials concerned to complete the reconstruction work within 45 days.

According to the commissioner, Rs99 million was provided to the RDA by the caretaker provincial government for the rehabilitation of the 6th Road Metro Bus Station. He said that in the second phase, Rs34 million would be spent to repair partially damaged bus stations i.e. Faizabad, Khatam-i-Nabuwat (Shamsabad), and Committee Chowk.

He said that the civil works included the replacement of damaged doors (emergency exit), signboards, tempered glass, granite, ticket booth, as well as metal cladding among other things. The electrical works include the replacement of panel boards, wires, lights, and fans. The RDA, however, will not repair the elevator and escalators at the bus station. These will be fixed by the masstransit authority next month.

More than 100,000 people benefit from the metro bus service daily, the commissioner said, adding that the rehabilitation of the metro station would facilitate the residents of the area. Due to the damage to the bus station, people have been facing difficulties in their daily commute for the past four months. The passengers from 6th Road have to go to Rehmanabad Bus Station or Shamsabad Bus Station to use the metro bus service.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2023