KP CM decides not to inaugurate incomplete BRT

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said on Friday that he had decided not to inaugurate the incomplete Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project on March 23.

Through a statement, he said though significant progress on the BRT has been made, there was still some work pending, including the bus stations. "Therefore, I have decided not to inaugurate an incomplete project," he said adding, "Prime Minister Imran Khan has advised him not to inaugurate an incomplete project for political gains that goes against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) agenda for real change." By issuing the statement a day before March 23, the chief minister ended the ongoing confusion that had surfaced with the conflicting statements of Minister for Information Shaukat Yousafzai and spokesman for the provincial government, Ajmal Wazir.

The provincial information minister had stated that he would inaugurate the BRT according to the earlier announcement on March 23 but the provincial spokesman said it was not possible and would be inaugurated only after the completion of the ongoing developmental work.

Ignoring criticism of the opposition, Chief Minister Mahmud Khan said that PTI did not believe in "takhti" politics. "Therefore we will inaugurate this project once the corridor is available for public use," he added. He said: "I understand that the citizens of Peshawar have been inconvenienced, and I can feel their pain. We are working hard to solve it. However, this project is very important for the city of Peshawar. It's the biggest investment ever made by any government in Peshawar city," he remarked.

Mahmood Khan said he had asked his administration to complete the work on the mixed traffic lanes as quickly as possible and to improve the traffic flow in the city. The chief minister directed to investigate the recent issues with drainage, resolve them and complete the work on the corridor and open it for the public as soon as possible. He issued a final warning to all responsible people, saying the responsible people would have to face the music.