The rehabilitation work on the metro bus’s elevated track between Saddar and Faizabad has been extended until January 15, as the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has only completed 88% of the project. Initially launched by the Punjab Mass Transit Authority earlier this year with a budget of Rs. 718.945 million, the project was originally slated for completion by December 31 but faced delays.
Punjab Minister for Transport and Mass Transit Bilal Akbar Khan visited the site and assured that the remaining work would be finished by mid-January. He attributed the delays to protests and unfavorable weather conditions. Discussions are ongoing with the Islamabad administration regarding further track repairs. The minister also highlighted that mechanical faults had developed in metro buses due to the deteriorated track.
To modernize public transport, tenders for 110 electric and standard-class buses have been issued, aiming to improve travel facilities in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and other cities. The minister emphasized that the Punjab government is committed to enhancing transport systems in nine major cities of the province. He added that the Punjab Road Safety Authority would be managed internally to improve traffic management and reduce accidents.
Officials from the RDA, including Additional Director General Owais Manzoor Tarar and Regional Transport Authority Secretary Rashid Ali, accompanied the minister during his visit. A senior RDA official remarked that despite the temporary closure of the metro bus service for extended periods, the contractor struggled to expedite progress. The repair work, which began in July, failed to gain momentum despite instructions to focus on night-time operations.