ADB to provide Rs42.5bn to KP for Metro Bus project

PESHAWAR: Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Transport, Malik Shah Muhammad Wazir said here Monday that Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide about Rs42.5 billion to the KP government for construction of the much-awaited Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) commonly known as Metro Bus in Peshawar.

In an exclusive interview with APP here, the CM special assistant said all paper works for this mega project has been completed and construction work on it would commence this month.

Completion of BRT before June 2018 was a big challenge for KP Government and all efforts would be made to complete it before end of current Govt’s tenure, he said.

It is 50billion project in which Rs42.5 billion would be provided by ADB and Rs7.5billon would be injected by the KP Government, he said.

He said about 450 state of the art air conditioned buses would ply on road after completion of 26 kilometers BRT’s route from Chamkani to Phase V Hayatabad, adding 64 kilometers approach roads were also part of this mega plan.

The execution plan of BRT has beenapproved by the Chief Minister for timely completion of the project that would help resolve all traffic congestions and problems in Peshawar.

The BRT’s corridor will be around 26 kilometers long with 15 kilometers street level stretch, six kilometers long elevated portion and five kilometers tunnels.

The BRT will have 32 stations, two depots, 68 kilometers feeder bus routes, 150 bus stops, 450 buses, six storied parking plaza and 61 acres of commercial plaza.

Malik Shah Muhammad said the project will be completed in a short possible time with an aim to introduce a well-designed, comfortable and user-friendly public transport and provide commuters with a reliable, safe, affordable and high quality bus rapid transit service in the provincial capital.

Terming it a gift of KP Government for people of Peshawar, he said, it would save the time and money of passengers coming to Peshawar from other districts in large number by providing them quality transport services.

To a question about unchecked rent a cars and private driving schools business in Peshawar sucking blood of innocent people, Malik Shah Muhammad said the government was well aware of these issues and was making concrete efforts to bring these business under tax-net.

The CM special assistant said efforts were underway to establish a Regularity Authority in Peshawar to regulate and streamline rent a cars and private driving schools business in the province.

To provide better facilities to passengers and transporters, he said Rs400 million would be spent on Bannu Bus terminal.

A Cadet College Bannu has been approved to be constructed on 1000 kanal land on Bannu-Miranshah Road aimed at to provide quality education to people of North Waziristan, Bannu and others adjoining districts.

Work on 20 kilometers Janikhel road in FR Bannu was underway with fast pace that would be completed with an estimated cost of Rs40million.

More than 90pc work on mega Tochi bridge that would connect FR Bannu and Bannu City including Mrwat, Bhattani, Wazir, Bannochi and others tribes of Waziristan and Bannu were completed and soon be inaugurated, he informed.

Work on mega Bannu southern bypass road costing Rs3billion will start this year, which would connect southern districts with Indus Highway and Bannu-Ghulam Khan Highway.

Another gigantic project of rising of Baran Dam would be completed with an estimated cost of Rs5.5billion whereas Rs900 million would be spent on the beautification of Bannu and Rs400 million on Ghandikhel-Hewad Road, he informed.

To provide quick services to people at emergency, he said Rescue 1122 service has been extended to Bannu and recruitment process of employees were in progress.

These projects, he said, after completion would alleviate poverty, reduce unemployment, provide better communication facilities besides changing destiny of people of southern districts of KP.