RAWALPINDI: The mega project of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the Metrobus project continues to face delay and is not likely to be completed by the given date of its inauguration i.e. 31st January, 2015.
When the project was launched, the authorities had made lot of claims that it would be completed by the end of December, 2014. However, the executing agencies later claimed that the sit ins by the PTI and PAT have affected their work and requested for extension of the date to 31st January.
With less than a week left, the project is still no where near completion. Bus stops being constructed at a distance of a kilometre from each other are yet to be completed while escalators and elevators are yet to arrive at most of the sites.
The overhead bridge for the metrobus at Faizabad has not yet been completed though work on it started immediately after the launching of the project. It is causing great inconvenience for the commuters to Islamabad and other cities. Some patch work is still going on at the 9th Avenue between double road and Peshawar More. The flyover at Peshawar Mor is being treated as a different project from the Metro bus and its pillars are still being erected.It is projected to be inaugurated in May to facilitate commuters of the Kashmir highway
The flyover expansion to accommodate the metro bus at Faisal Avenue is moving at snails pace which has badly affected the transport system on the major artery of the capital. The bridges near Kalsoom Plaza are yet to be given finishing touches while their surrounding areas await carpeting.
People who are keen to see the inauguration of the project as soon as possible to get relief from the all embarrassing wagon operators have expressed their dismay over the delay. They say the project could only see the green light on 23rd March if Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif pays two to three visits to it in a month as he had been doing for the metrobus project in Lahore.
INP
