Islamabad section divided into five zones

Islamabad A meeting of the ‘Project Implementation Committee,’ constituted by Punjab Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for implementation of the Metro Bus Project, was held at the Jinnah Convention Centre here on Friday to review the progress on the Islamabad portion of the scheme. The meeting was chaired by PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi, who is the chairman of the committee. The committee comprises Hanif Abbasi (chairman), MNA Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, former MNA Shakeel Awan, MPA Raja Hanif, CDA chairman, IGP Islamabad, ICT chief commissioner and Rawalpindi chief commissioner (co-chairman). The representatives of five construction firms working at five sites of Islamabad Section of the Metro Bus Project were present in the meeting. The ‘Project Implementation Committee’ has been constituted to review the pace of construction work and submit performance report to the Punjab chief minister on weekly basis. The chief commissioner of Rawalpindi (co-chairman) informed the participants of the meeting that the Islamabad Section of Metro Bus Project has been divided into five zones. The work on these zones has been awarded to five contractors to speed up the pace of work on the project. He informed that 4.7 kilometres long first section of the project is from Faizabad to Peshawar Morr. The total cost of the first section is Rs3 billion. The second part of the project is the construction of Peshawar Morr Interchange at a cost of Rs5.5 billion. The third section of the project consists of construction of roads from Peshawar Morr to the Centaurus Mall. The fourth section starts from the Centaurus Mall and ends at Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat, Blue Area. The 2.21 kilometres long fifth package starts from Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat and ends at Pak Secretariat. This section would be completed with a cost of Rs2.27 billion. Hanif Abbasi, chairman of the ‘Project Implementation Committee,’ said that all issues like shifting of utility service lines, electricity poles and portion of weekly bazaar in Sector H-9, shall be resolved in consultation with all stakeholders. All possible steps should be taken to minimise problems of the masses during the project implementation. Alternative passages should be provided to commuters and signboards should be installed. All relevant departments should work in liaison during the construction period. Traffic police should chalk out an elaborate plan to streamline flow of traffic. Shields should be erected around construction sites wherever necessary to avert any untoward situation. The Rawalpindi chief commissioner informed the participants of the meeting that payment in lieu of shifting of service lines has been made to the concerned agencies and organisations. CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal reiterated full cooperation and support of the civic body for speedy completion of the project.