PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said here on Thursday that Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project would change the face of Peshawar and usher in a new era of development.

Addressing the ground breaking ceremony of the project, he said that BRT would not only solve traffic problems in the city, but also add to its beauty. He said that the project was likely to change the face of the city and usher in a new era of development.

The chief minister performed the ground breaking of the project at the junction of Northern Bypass and motorway. Chief Secretary Mohammad Azam Khan, MNAs, MPAs, Transport Secretary Kamran Rehman Khan, Peshawar Development Authority Director General Hassan Saleem Watoo and Peshawar nazim Mohammad Asim Khan were also present on the occasion.

Mr Khattak said that BRT project would prove essential in restoring the beauty of the city. He directed the officials concerned to ensure completion of the project within the stipulated time of six months at every cost. He also asked people to bear patiently traffic related woes during the construction of BRT corridor.

CM directs officials to complete scheme within six months

The chief minister said that they were told not to start work on the project during elections’ year as it could impact party’s vote bank in the provincial capital. However, he said that the projects of PTI government were not vote centric but for the welfare of people.

Mr Khattak said that besides BRT, greater circular railway project was also being executed under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that would connect Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda and Malakand. He said that transport facilities were insufficient in Peshawar. He said that the existing transport was unsafe for women and children.

The chief minister said that with the help of international partners including Asian Development Bank, they were striving to provide modern transport facilities to the people in the provincial capital. He said that BRT would provide safe and modern transport facilities to about 400,000 to 500,000 people on daily basis.

Mr Khattak said that the project would not only provide traffic facilities to people but also play positive role for betterment of environment. He said that BRT corridor was about 26 kilometres long from Chamkani to Hayatabad that would be lined with 32 bus stations and 132 bus stops.

The chief minister said that they would also provide 68 kilometres feeder routes including Charsadda, Bara, Kohat, Warsak and Ring Road for the benefit of the people.

He said that eight kilometres portion of the corridor would be underground.

He said that the project would cost Rs48 billion, of which provincial government would provide Rs7 billion while ADB would provide Rs 41 billion.

Mr Khattak said that provincial government would get 300 air-conditioned buses to run on the BRT corridor.

Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Transport Shah Mohammad Khan Wazir, Mohammad Asim Khan and Hassan Saleem Watoo also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2017