PESHAWAR: Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Transport Malik Shah Muhammad Khan Wazir here Wednesday disclosed that Rs 18 billion has been approved for Peshawar bus rapid transport project and two new mega transport projects in the upcoming KP proposed budget 2016-17.
In an exclusive interview, Malik Shah Muhammad said the proposed bus project was a part of Mass Transit System (MTS) in Peshawar starting from Chamkani Motorway Interchange to Hayatabad and would be completed by December 2017 with financial assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB). The ADB to provide loan for these projects at one percent mark payable by 2030, he explained.
Five different corridors would be established under the proposed project to make flow of city traffic smooth besides providing quality transport services to residents of Peshawar. The project would ease the traffic load on intercity roads of the provincial capital.
In the first phase, he said, 100 air conditioned buses would be brought for which pre-qualification tenders from interested international companies were already received.
“The buses would arrive Peshawar within six months for which all modalities including its fare, routes and passengers stops were being finalized,” he told APP.
Asked about new projects proposed in the budget 2016-17, Malik Shah Muhammad said a state of the art model Peshawar Transport Complex and Peshawar Trucks Terminal were proposed for the upcoming budget besides others new projects that would bring revolution in the transport sector.
“We will construct commercial plazas on existing Haji Camp transport stand in Peshawar GT Road and the revenue generated from it would be used for uplift of transport sector. He said the KP Government was enacting legislation to bring rent a car business under tax net.
The special assistant said action against illegally operating driving schools and rent a car services have been started in the province and asked all the driving schools to register themselves otherwise strict action would be taken against them under the law. He said no body would be allowed to suck blood of innocent people in the name of quality drivers training facilities.
The smoke emitting rickshaws are being diverted from urban to suburban areas of Peshawar keeping its environmental hazards on human lives under consideration, he disclosed. As many as 8000 four stroke- rickshaws have been handed over to poor people for its increased fuel efficiency and environmental friendly, he added.
Malik Shah Muhammad said corruption from transport department has been eliminated and driving licenses and transport permits were being issued strictly on merit. He said 200 illegally operated transport stands were closed down. As many as 800 canal land was acquired near Chamkani Motorway Interchange to bring all transport stands at one place at Peshawar to regulate traffic flow.
