RAWALPINDI: The Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMA) has provided Rs720 million to the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) to start repair work on the metro elevated road from Saddar to Faiazabad. However, the work on the 6th Road Metro Bus Station will be completed in a day or two.

Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi was scheduled to arrive in the garrison city, but his visit was postponed due to his commitments in Gujranwala.

The PMA general manager of operation Uzair Shah, when contacted, stated that the work on 6th Road Metro Bus Station was almost complete and the engineers were checking the issue of short circuiting. He said that the work would be completed in a day or two.

Mr Shah said that the repair work on the elevated Metro Bus service road on Murree Road from Saddar to Faizabad will be started, for which funds amounting to Rs720 million have been provided to the RDA.

Moreover, the National Engineering Services Pakistan completed the survey and recommended initiating the repair work, as after nine years of construction, the track was in dire need of renovation.

The total length of the Metro Bus Corridor is approximately 23km, including 8.6km elevated, 10km at grade, and a four-kilometre trench. While 68 air-conditioned buses for the service are being operated and transport an estimated 150,000 passengers daily,.

The portion of Metro Bus Service in Rawalpindi from Flashman’s Hotel to Faizabad, which has a distance of 8.6km, is elevated, while in Islamabad, 14.6 km is on the ground, starting from Faizabad to Pak Secretariat via IJP Road and 9th Avenue. The track has 24 modern stations for passengers. Of these, 10 are on Murree Road, while 14 are in Islamabad.

Mr Shah informed that in the initial phase, the elevated road from Saddar to Faizabad will be repaired, and the work will be completed within six months as the Punjab caretaker government releases the funds.

Apart from this, Mr Shah mentioned that the PMA Rawalpindi chapter made a plan to ensure running buses on this route during construction work. He added that in Lahore, Metro Bus Service closed at 9:00 pm instead of 10:00 pm, and during the night, the repair work was done.

“So, this scheme may also be applied in the Rawalpindi section,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2024