PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade (BOIT) has planned to execute an overambitious development plan of building a 22-kilometer long rapid bus and ambulance-specific road in Peshawar in around one year.

A BOIT news release issued on Wednesday claimed that the proposed road would become operational in the first quarter of 2015, fulfilling the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf vision.

The track is to pass through the middle of the provincial capital for which land will be taken on lease from Pakistan Railways.

As per the project plan, the service will originate from Nasirpur and culminate at Karkhano Market in Hayatabad.

“The biggest development project in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa history will not only ensure the provision of rapid transport to the citizens but also mark an important milestone in development of healthcare facilities in the province by the PTI government, setting example for other provinces of the country,” claimed the release.

Quoting BOIT Vice Chairman Mohsin Aziz, the release said the feasibility and technical work of the dedicated route was under progress.

The proposed 50 feet wide road, which will run adjacent to the Grand Trunk Road, is to be integrated with all major arteries of the provincial capital.

Mr Aziz said the road would touch all major residential areas, commercial centres and business hubs of the city.

He said the project would help reduce all hospitals reach-out timings by almost half and that it would take an ambulance just 45 minutes to reach a hospital from the far-off corner of the city compared to the present transportation time of one and a half hours.

He said the BOIT would acquire the entire land on lease and complete the track within the shortest period. “Other infrastructure and rolling of the busses will be arranged by the private sector,” said the release.

The immediate plan is to acquire around 30 to 40 trailer busses, having extra luggage space, which will continue to ply on the road after every five minutes to facilitate the commuters.