Peshawar: Authorities concerned have been asked to meet the deadline pertaining to the construction and operationalisation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s flagship Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, a news source reported. A meeting to review the progress on the project was chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.
Khan warned against any further delay in the completion of the multi-billion rupees project, and ordered that it should be made fully operational by March next year.
The project’s executing agency, Peshawar Development Authority (PDA), has set March 23 as the latest deadline for the launch of the Asian Development Bank-funded bus services, which has been delayed many times in the past.
The chief minister said anymore delay on part of the officials concerned would have its consequences, adding that BRT was a third generation efficient transport project that would provide solution to all traffic congestions in the city.
The government has already revised the cost from PKR 49 billion to PKR 69 billion due to frequent changes to the design. The BRT buses were to ply the track in May as per the original plan.
Sources privy to the development said Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and Pakistan Railways have yet to issue an NOC for the installation of heavy girders and lay new transmission line on Sonehri Masjid Road in cantonment areas, where work has been suspended for four months.
A request for the NOC was submitted to the railways department two months ago and even the due payment has been made for land acquisition, but no action has been taken as of yet. PDA has paid PKR 450 million for land acquisition and using its space at four different locations.
The civic body would have to pay an additional amount of PKR 120 million to the railways department for putting up the elevated track in Karkhano Market near Hayatabad. Overall, PKR 300 million has been paid to the board.
PDA would also pay PKR 1.8 billion to WAPDA, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) for relocating their installations.
