RAWALPINDI: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who has been keenly waiting for the inauguration of the metro bus service, was on Sunday disappointed over the poor workmanship on the multi-billion rupees project.

During a visit to the garrison city, the chief minister gave seven days to the officials concerned to remove debris scattered on the roads along the metro bus track from Saddar to Pakistan Secretariat.

He also ordered them to pay full attention on the finishing work and beautification of the pillars of the track, bus stations, underpasses and other places.

“Remove the debris, lift the garbage and drain out the rainwater from the newly-carpeted Murree Road, metro bus track, I.J. Principal Road, 9th Avenue and Jinnah Avenue within seven days. I will pay a snap visit to the site within a few days,” Commissioner Zahid Saeed quoted the chief minister as saying.

During a visit to metro bus track, Shahbaz Sharif asked officials to remove debris from roads along metro bus track within seven days

He said the chief minister expressed displeasure over the poor quality of the work as the contractors had tried to hide the joints in the paint. He said the chief minister was also astonished over the poor horticulture work along the track in the twin cities.

A senior official of the City District Government Rawalpindi told Dawn that the chief minister sought a clarification from Mustafa Kamal, the Nespak consultant, and Akram Soban, the director general of the Parks and Horticulture Authority, where the money had been spent as there was no beautification seen on the route of the metro bus service.

Mr Sharif reached at Saddar in the morning from where he inspected the entire metro bus track using a metro bus and an ordinary coaster.

He first inspected the Saddar station of the metro bus service and reached Liaquat Bagh by a metro bus from where he boarded an ordinary coaster and inspected the Committee Chowk underpass, Waris Khan, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and Rehmanabad stations.

He again boarded a metro bus at Rehmanabad station and stopped at Shamsabad, Faizadabad and I.J.P. Road stations and reviewed the underpasses and other facilities for the passengers.

While travelling on the track, the chief minister inspected the construction work on 9th Avenue, Peshawar Mor, Blue Area and Pak Secretariat. He issued instructions for accelerating the pace of horticulture work and improving its standard.

The chief minister said a comprehensive planning was being made for the security and the prevention of accidents on all stations and the track of metro bus service while arrangements would be made for the safety of pedestrians, especially on the metro bus track, in Islamabad

Mr Sharif appreciated the patience displayed by the citizens of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, especially traders, during the construction of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus track.

He said no planning had ever been made for the mass transit system in Pakistan. However, after Lahore, the metro bus project in Rawalpindi will result in the availability of a quality transport system to the citizens. He said the scope of the system would gradually be extended to other big cities of the country under a phased programme.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play