RAWALPINDI: The Punjab MassTransit Authority (PMA) has added Chandani Chowk Bus Station to the Metro Bus Express route, while repair work on the 6th Road bus station will be completed by Jan 6.

An official of Metro Bus told Dawn that the metro bus express service launched last year had only six stops from Saddar to the Pakistan Secretariat, but now it has added Chandani Chowk to the route to facilitate the Benazir Bhutto Hospital’s patients.

He said the metro bus saved the time of the people who wanted to reach Islamabad from Rawalpindi early. “The bus service saves 20 minutes, as regular service usually stops at 24 bus stations between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, he said.

On the other hand, the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Director General (DG) Saif Anwar Jappa said that the 6th Road station repair work, costing Rs99 million, will be completed by Jan 6.

The 6th Road Metro Station was severely damaged by the protesters of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on May 9 during the arrest of former premier Imran Khan. The protesters entered the station premises and damaged it by setting up a fire, resulting in the complete burning of the station.

Repair work on 6th Road metro station to be completed by Jan 6

The reconstruction work had been inactive for six months, but it would be completed soon, the DG said.

The RDA DG added that the Punjab Caretaker Government had provided Rs 99 million to the RDA for the rehabilitation of this metro station, and in the second phase, Rs 34 million would be spent on the repair work on partially damaged bus stations in Faizabad, Khtam-e-Naboowat (Shamsabad), and Committee Chowk, he said.

Mr Jappa mentioned that civil works included the replacement of damaged doors (Emergency Exit), sign boards, tempered glass, replacement of granite, railing, fixing of metal cladding (Roofing), vinyl sheet on flooring, rehabilitation of the ticket booth in all respects, shoot concreting at the burned portion of the slab, and paint and plaster works.

Moreover, the electrical work included the replacement of metal panel boards, the replacement of wires, and the fixing of lights and fans.

As per media reports, some material fell from the track at the 6th Road section.

The RDA DG, while claiming the track was damaged, said that the repair work was continued on the site, and the workers repaired the expansion joint of the track.

“The track was damaged, but we repaired it, and after adopting all the standard operating procedures, the road was closed, and then the work was done,” he remarked.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2024