ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will inaugurate the much-awaited Rs44 billion Islamabad-Rawalpindi metro bus service on Thursday, aimed at provision of state-of-the-art, safe and cost-efficient transportation facilities to the general public.
The inauguration ceremony will be held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad at 03:00 pm.
Under the project, a dedicated signal free track of 23 kilometers has been constructed between Islamabad Secretariat to Saddar Rawalpindi with 24 stations equipped with modern facilities to facilitate the commuters of twin cities.
Ticketing booths, escalators and overhead bridges have been constructed at the stations for the convenience of the commuters.
The main feature of the project is the elevated structure of Rawalpindi portion.
The Islamabad-Rawalpindi metro bus service, which would benefit about 135,000 commuters daily, has been completed at a cost of over Rs44 billion which was shared by the federal and the Punjab government.
Initially, 60 buses would pass through the busiest Murree road in Rawalpindi, IJ Principal Road, 9th Avenue, Peshawar Mor and the Federal Capital’s commercial hub known as Blue area to reach Pakistan Secretariat.
Earlier, addressing a press briefing in Rawalpindi after visit of metro Bus service route on June 1, the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that Metro bus service will provide better transportation to the people of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The Chief Minister said that this is a unique project of its kind meant to facilitate the masses. He said that the project has been completed in a record time with complete transparency.
Shahbaz Sharif further said that elaborate security arrangements have been made for the security of the passengers, buses and the infrastructure.
