Metro bus project launch likely on 27th

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will announce on Wednesday (today) the formal launching of the Punjab government’s most prestigious project, the Metro Bus Service (MBS), probably on January 27, The News has learnt.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is chairing a high level and conclusive meeting on Wednesday (today) to review the pace of work on MBS and finalising the date of its launching which is most probably of January 27.

Hamza Shahbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of elected representatives from Lahore and officials attached with the project and got briefing from them about the overall progress regarding the construction of MBS. The meeting was arranged to review issues pertaining to the MBS and giving final shape to the agenda of CM meeting which will be held today.

The participants of the meeting had proposed January 27 (Sunday) as most probable date of launching of MBS project. The sources stated the meeting decided to put forward the launching date before the CM who is likely to give final nod on it. Moreover, Hamza Shahbaz got briefing from the officials regarding various aspects of the project and completion process of its different phases. He was informed that more than 90 percent of the work pertaining to the project had been completed and they were just giving final touches to give it complete go ahead.

The 27-km long MBS project is estimated to cost the government around Rs 29.8 billion. Sources further said as date of formal launch of MBS was approaching, the Security Company 2000, whom Punjab government had awarded tenders of MBS security, has started deploying its personnel at various points of MBS after providing them necessary training.

Sources in the police department have claimed that Mujahid Squad had also relieved around 120 men for security purposes of MBS. It is also worth mentioning here that traffic police had also launched its new campaign to guide motorists about different routes especially of MBS. Any citizens may send their messages, write traffic and send it to 8001, he would be responded within seconds about traffic on different routes especially those leading to MBS.

Having around 9-km flyover, this project is going to be completed in less than a year. Chairing a high level meting on 3 January, the CM had announced that free metro buses would be run for the people, during the first two weeks. He had said that the bus fare would be kept within the reach of the common man, while the people would be provided modern e-ticketing system for the metro buses.