The Sustainable Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Project had been recently approved by the Provincial Development Working Party in Peshawar.
The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project similar to Lahore and Islamabad/Rawalpindi Metro Bus service, once completed will facilitate 17.54 pc of Peshawar’s total population and about 500,000 people will be able to commute through the service daily.
The project’s cost has hiked up by Rs. 20b (54 pc) to reach Rs57.23b. Out of the total cost outlay, Asian Development Bank will be providing financing facilities of Rs 50b while the government will be investing Rs 7.23b in the project.
The bus route will feature 32 stations, 2 depots, 150 bus stops, 450 buses, 68 km feeder bus routes, a 6 story parking plaza, 61-acre commercial plaza.
The project cost was hiked by Rs 20b due to a number of reasons including international bidding, inclusion of Sunehri Masjid alignment, the inclusion of institutional costs, resettlement costs, land acquisition, resettlement plan, utilities relocation, financing charges and fleet scrapping.
Two types of buses, 9-metre and 12-meter will be used to provide the service with the 9-metre bus operating on smaller roads such as Kohat Road, Bara Road and in areas near Hayatabad.
Work on the project is due to be initiated after the approval of the Central Development Working Party has been sought. The project is likely to be completed in 12 months.
