RAWALPINDI: The Sixth Road Metro Bus Station, which suffered significant damage during the unrest on May 9, continues to remain inoperative after more than 100 days.
Despite efforts, the repair plans are mired in a bureaucratic standoff between the Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMTA) and Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA).
A chief factor contributing to the repair delay is the lack of funding, as revealed by a senior district administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The repair costs are estimated to range from Rs. 120 million to Rs. 140 million, however, the interim Punjab government has yet to allocate the necessary funds.
As per the details, the protestors extensively vandalized the metro station, setting parts of it ablaze.
Subsequently, escalators, elevators, ticketing booths, air-conditioning systems, and automatic doors were rendered inoperative.
Metro buses that typically serviced the Sixth Road station now bypass it, forcing commuters to travel to Rahmanabad or Chandni Chowk stations for boarding.
Shamim Bibi, an Islamabad-based teacher, shared her ordeal of the past three months, highlighting the challenges she faces since the metro bus ceased to halt at Sixth Road station.
She urged caretaker governments at both the federal and provincial levels to address the plight of the affected passengers.
Meanwhile, the RDA and PMTA remain in a standoff over responsibilities for repair and maintenance.
PMTA has repeatedly urged RDA to collaborate on maintenance efforts, expressing its stance through written correspondence.
On the contrary, RDA asserts that the responsibility for metro bus facilities, including maintenance and repair, rests with PMTA since they are responsible for the operations.
PMTA, however, has not clarified why the repair work has been subject to delays.
A district official reported that RDA engineers conducted an initial assessment of the station.
However, it is deemed crucial to involve the National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) before initiating the repair work.
Despite a recent visit to the affected station by Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatta, accompanied by former lawmaker Hanif Abbasi, and their issuance of immediate repair orders, there has been little observable progress on implementing the commissioner’s directives.
Source: Tribune
