ISLAMABAD (March 13 2009): Work on the feasibility study of Rapid Mass Transit System (RMTS) between Rawalpindi and Islamabad worth Rs 70 million will start within a fortnight, agreement for which is being signed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Rejlers and National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak), a senior CDA official told Business Recorder here on Thursday.
"The project approved in June 2008 is not on schedule, therefore, we are making all our efforts to start work on it as soon as possible", said the official. After approval of the project last year, the firms had to start the feasibility study on July 25, 2008 to be completed within eight months.The officials said that earlier the change in the management and now the law and order situation in the country were the major reason behind the delay in initiation of the project.
A high level meeting, chaired CDA Chairmn by Tariq Mahmood Khan, was held on Thursday to review the outline of feasibility study of RMTS.The meeting was also attended by member, CDA Planning and Design Syed Tanvir Bukhari, Consultant, Engineering, Lieutenant Colonel Arshad Naseem (Retd), Director, Traffic Engineering, Azam Khan Lodhi, and officers of other concerned departments. The Director, Traffic Engineering, briefed the CDA Chairman about the initiation of feasibility report of Rapid Mass Transit System.
Tariq Mahmood Khan was informed that tenders had been floated in the international media for establishment of rapid mass transit system of international standard, in response to which five firms had submitted their bids to carry out feasibility study. Rejlers was selected based on technical experience and lowest financial cost of the bid after detailed scrutiny.The meeting was informed that PC-II of the project had been approved and eight months of duration would be required to complete the feasibility study. The CDA and Rejlers are expected to reach an agreement within next 10 days.
The CDA Chairman said that the project of Rapid Mass Transit System was of the great worth, which must be initiated earlier. He directed the concerned department to remove hurdles in the way of this project.The citizens of the twin cities desperately need the facility of Rapid Mass Transit System of international standard. In the meantime, alternative steps would be taken to meet the transport needs of the citizens of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, he added.
He urged the Planning Wing to plan and demarcate places for the transport stations; detailed recommendations on financial and administrative affairs of such projects should be submitted to the CDA board for its approval. He also directed to invite application for bus service in the twin cities before the completion of Rapid Mass Transit System.Besides, public-private partnership, if necessary, the CDA may also hold the administrative control of bus service, the CDA Chairman added.
He said CDA was utilising its available resources for initiating the mega projects to facilitate the citizens of the Federal capital.
No comments:
Post a Comment