Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government has extended the deadline to meet the construction and operationalisation requirements of its flagship Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project for the fifth time, a news source reported. Former chief minister Pervez Khattak had inaugurated the project on October 19, 2017.
The project’s executing agency, Peshawar Development Authority (PDA), had set March 23 as the fourth deadline for the launch of the Asian Development Bank-funded bus services, which has been delayed many times in the past.
The development came a week after Chief Minister Mahmood Khan chaired a meeting to review the progress, and warned against any further delay in its completion.
So far, authorities have completed the construction of Chamkani Station, which is one of eight stations of the bus project. As many as 10 mechanical doors, equipped with a sensor technology to scan barcodes, have been installed at the station.
A spokesperson said that the station would also host a commercial area, restaurants and car parking for the passengers. He added that four of the eight stations would be constructed underground.
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.
