ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday inaugurated the Green and Blue lines of the mass transit metro bus service, the first interconnected four-line metro service in the country, terming the step relief for commuters of the twin cities dealing with soaring fuel prices.
Addressing the launch, the premier said the service would be a gift to the residents of the twin cities and will serve the common man, students and workers plying on the routes.
The service will connect Bhara Kahu, GT Road, Koral and Rawalpindi through the Green, Orange, Blue and Red Lines, respectively.
The bus service will run from Bhara Kahu to PIMS (Green Line) and from Koral to PIMS (Blue Line). The two lines will merge with the Red Line and from the Faiz Ahmad Faiz bus stop, passengers can take the Orange line to Islamabad International Airport.
The premier remarked that a decent and on-time transportation service was a service to the common man and lauded the efforts of the interior minister and the chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA). He also announced free transportation services to commuters for one month.
The premier said the shuttle service from Rawat to Koral was under consideration and funds would be provided for an early launch. He added that every penny of the national exchequer would be spent judiciously for the uplift of citizens and stressed that every public project is monitored to avoid lapses in delivery.
The prime minister said efforts were afoot to control inflation in the country through short-term relief measures and added that the government would promote solar power generation projects to mitigate the shortage of electricity.
Shehbaz also lauded steps taken by the Punjab government to provide free electricity to consumers consuming 100 units and hoped that other provinces would emulate the facility.
The prime minister also laid the foundation stone of a command and control centre for metro buses at Bhara Kahu, which is set to be completed in six months.
Chairman CDA Amir Ahmed Ali said 30 buses from China had been added to the fleet to facilitate the service. The route from Koral to PIMS saw the addition of 13 bus stations, with a headway of six minutes, he added.
The chairman said that eight stations were completed on the Green Line, whereas the remaining six stations would be completed by August 14. A bus depot has also been established at Bhara Kahu to save dead mileage.
