RAWALPINDI: Metro Bus Service resumed its operation between Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Saturday after four days of closure due to protests of PTI workers and supporters over arrest of Imran Khan in Al-Qadir Trust case.

The bus service stopped its operation on May 9 and the protesters destroyed bus stations of Faizabad, Shamsabad and set the 6thRoad bus station on fire.

Punjab Masstransit Authority estimated initial damage worth Rs40 million for Metro bus stations and elevated road and asked Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and Nespak to examine the intensity of damage to structure and pillars of elevated road and bus stations and inform the authority as soon as possible.

Talking to Dawn, Syed Ozair Shah, General Manager Punjab Masstransit Authority, said that the letter had been written toMetroBusproject Consultant Nespak and Rawalpindi Development Authority to form a committeeof experts and engineers to assess the structure ofthe elevated road andbusstations damaged during violent protests of PTI on May 9.

“In the initial survey, PMA found that elevator, escalator, cables and ticket stations and bus station at 6th Road damaged severely and initial estimated loss stood at Rs40 million. However, we feared that the fire damage the pillars and structure of elevated road,” he said.

However, RDA did not form committee of experts yet to determine the damage to metro bus stations and elevated road and waiting for Punjab government’s directions.

RDA Director General Saif Anwar Jappa said that the RDA would start the work to examine the structure and pillars of Metro Bus Stations and elevated road on the directives of Punjab government.

Shumaila Mohsin, Manager Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Service, said that the bus service resumed after getting security clearance from the district administrations of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

She said the 6thRoad Bus station would be skipped during operation of buses between Rawalpindi and Islamabad and passengers had been requested to use Shamsabad Bus Station and Rehmanabad bus stations instead of 6th Road.

Metro Bus Service was suspended on the directives of deputy commissioner of Rawalpindi for security reasons.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2023