ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has approved, in principle, a proposal to establish a Capital Mass Transit Authority for the planning, operation and maintenance of the metro bus service running between the new Islamabad airport and the capital and Rawalpindi’s main residential areas.

The decision was taken at a meeting held on Wednesday at the Prime Minister’s Office on the Islamabad metro bus project, which is being established to cater to the transportation requirements of twin cities’ residents after the completion

The meeting was attended by State Minister for Communication Mohammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Capital Development Authority Chairman Sheikh Anser Aziz and Punjab Mass Transit Authority managing director Sibtain Fazal-i-Haleem, among others.

Mr Abbasi directed that necessary legislation to this effect be initiated and the expertise of the Punjab Mass Transit Authority be utilised for the establishment of the statutory body within the minimum possible timeframe.

He also directed National Highways Authority Chairman Shahid Ashraf Tarar to ensure timely completion of infrastructure and allied works on the new Islamabad airport link road. The government is planning to inaugurate the new airport near Fatehjang in the first quarter of 2018.

The CDA under then-chairman Kamran Lashari floated the idea for a mass transit system in 2007.

Then member planning retired Brig Nusratullah had sought applications for the feasibility report and it was decided to award the contract to a foreign company, but transport issue facing residents has not been addressed to date.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2017