ICCI chief bemoans delay in completion of Metro Bus Project

Islamabad
The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has expressed concern over failure of the concerned authorities in meeting the deadline for completion of the Metro Bus Service Project.
Talking to this scribe, ICCI President Muzzamil Sabri regretted that the Metro Bus Service Project lags behind its schedule, creating problems for public.
He said that the project raises many questions due to slow pace of work and lack of attention to address environmental issues. The repair and maintenance work of roads of the project sites is also slow and of poor quality which needs to be addressed seriously.
Elaborating his point of view, the ICCI president said that at a number of places in Islamabad, especially at 9th Avenue, the newly-constructed roads are bumpy and uneven.
Muzzamil Sabri, continuing his concern, stated that to address the environmental aspect, as per reports sufficient amount of Rs180 million was allocated, whereas plantation work at Agha Shahi and other roads has still not been properly executed. In order to beautify Islamabad and to address environment issues, attention should be given to maximum plantation of saplings and plants, he suggested.
Replying to a query related to problems faced by the traders community since the inception of work on the mega project, Muzzamil Sabri observed that many roads in Islamabad are still closed due to construction work on the project due to which industrialists and traders are facing problems.
Businessmen, especially in Blue Area, have suffered huge losses in their businesses because of the project. He emphasised the need for expediting work on the project to provide what he said relief to traders of Blue Area.
Muzzamil Sabri stressed that the management of the project must ensure good quality of road maintenance work and complete all pending work of roads, footpaths and bridges as early as possible for easy movement of traffic along with addressing environmental issues as per existing standards of the CDA.
Reacting to the concern expressed by the ICCI chief on behalf of business community, Chairman of the Implementation Sub-Committee of MBP Hanif Abbasi gave reasons which resulted in delay in completion of the project. He said that work on the project, since it was kicked off, is being done at a fast pace. However, staging of sit-ins in the federal capital by PTI and PAT affected work on it. At the same time, while work on the project was being carried out, two major components, including laying of new sewerage and drainage pipelines as well as construction of Interchange Link at Peshawar Morr was added. “The second component i.e. Interchange Link under which 10 flyovers and 4 underpasses have to be constructed is not a small work. However, the related contractors still carried work at a fast pace and is near completion,” he added.
He did not agree to the claims of ICCI chief that poor quality material is being used for repair and reconstruction of roads which were affected due to work on the project. Everything is being carried in a smooth way and now the project is almost complete. During work on any mega scheme like the MBP, problems do arise but they are only of temporary nature. The residents should tolerate all hardships and wait for the implementation of the project which would be inaugurated soon, he added.