RAWALPINDI: The interim Punjab government will start rehabilitation work at the 6th Road metro station next month, which will likely cost Rs150 million to the provincial exchequer and take three months to complete.

Interim Minister for Transport and Livestock Punjab Ibrahim Murad who visited the metro station made these remarks after a briefing from the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and Punjab Masstransit Authority (PMA) officials on the repair work. Since the May 9 riots, the station has remained shut.

Talking to the media on the occasion, Mr Murad said that unfortunately this public welfare project was damaged during the violence which was completely unjustified. He said the repair would cost Rs150 million and the station will be partially restored during the next month. He said that more than 100,000 people benefit from the Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus service every day and due to the closure of this station, thousands of citizens are facing problems daily.

The interim minister claimed that within the next three months, the station will be completely restored. The repair works include the replacement of escalators, ticketing machines, security cameras, and the infrastructure. The Punjab Mass Transit Authority contacted the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) for the repair work whereas Nespak was also consulted to examine the bus station structure which was damaged by the blaze. The foundation is safe, however.

Bus stop to partially open within one month, to become fully operational in three months

It may be noted that the 6th Road Metro Bus Station was burnt down by protesters allegedly belonging to the PTI on May 9 following the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan. Due to the damage to the bus station on May 9, people have been facing difficulties in their daily commute for the past four months. The passengers from 6th Road have to go to Rehmanabad Bus Station or Shamsabad Bus Station to use the metro bus service.

RDA Director General Saif Anwar Jappa told Dawn that the RDA has called bids for electric and civil works on the bus station. The bids will be opened on October 13 while the repair work will be completed by November 15, he added. He said the PMA will repair the elevators and escalators as well as the ticketing system and in this regard, it has already hired a vendor.

He said that the RDA was the executor of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Service project; therefore, the Punjab government asked the authority to spearhead the repair work.

Later, Mr Murad visited General Bus Stand Pirwadhai to review the facilities and directed the officials concerned to “expand the bus stand” further.

He said that it was the duty of the administration to control the smoke-emitting vehicles and brick kilns in the district to mitigate smog. On this occasion, the provincial minister was informed in the briefing that the total area of the bus stand was a little over 210 kanals. It was informed that the general bus stand was renovated this year and separate waiting rooms for men and women were built which were air-conditioned. The meeting was informed that CCTV cameras had been installed for the security while security guards for also deployed.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2023