ISLAMABAD: Businesses in the twin cities in general and the Blue Area in particular have been worst hit by the delay in Metro Bus project, pushing many traders to bankrupt while hundreds are on the verge.
Therefore, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) demands the government to ensure in time completion of the metro bus project as construction work has brought business activities to halt in twin cities.
Talking to a 25-member traders delegation of Blue Area led by Malik Saghir Ahmed, FPCCI Vice President Mian Akram Farid said that all the businesses in Islamabad had suffered but the Blue Area was worst hit.
He regretted that ill-planned metro bus project construction has created a new challenge for the business community.
He recalled that Metro Bus Project Committee Chairman Hanif Abbasi had assured the business community on various forums that the project would be completed in two months ahead of due date that was January 2015 but to no avail.
Main Akram Farid said that many roads in Islamabad were closed owing to work on the project resulting in scarcity of customers and transport issues.
Speaking on the occasion Malik Saghir said that busy business centre of Blue Area was giving a deserted look, adding that roads in Islamabad were deteriorating due to frequent movement of heavy trucks even on service roads.
He asked the Metro Bus Project management and CDA to look into these problems and take urgent measures to speed up the pace of work for completion of the project.
Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has asked the contractors of metro bus project to speed up work on the project in three shifts by involving more labour force.
he project, which scheduled to be completed by the end of 2014 was delayed due to sit-ins in the capital. As many as 64 buses will ply on the metro bus route.
The bus service will start from Flashman’s Resort Chowk on Benazir Bhutto Road and will end at Pakistan Secretariat. The buses will cover a distance of 23.2-km through Benazir Bhutto Road, Faizabad, IJ Principal Road, 9th Avenue and Jinnah Avenue of Islamabad.
