Punjab govt plans Metro Bus Service for Gujranwala

GUJRANWALA: Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan Thursday reviewed a plan to launch a transport initiative in Gujranwala on the model of Lahore Metro bus service.

The idea was discussed in a meeting that was chaired by the minister at the Commissioner’s Office here. Secretary Transport Punjab Imran Sikandar Baloch, Commissioner Gujranwala Division Naveed Haider Shirazi, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Naveed Ahmed, CPO Ayaz Saleem, NESPAK representative Musa Dar, Jamshed Janjua and relevant officials of other departments also attended the meeting. Addressing the meeting, the minister said the Punjab government is utilising all resources to provide the best traveling facilities to people. He said Gujranwala is an important and busy business city and Metro buses are being launched here to facilitate the people of this city on the major roads of the city.

He said earlier the metro bus project was from Morre Emanabad to Rahwali which has now been extended to Gakhar for the convenience of the people while the authorities concerned have been directed to consider starting this project from Kamoke instead of Morre Aimanabad so that maximum people can benefit from it.

He said 1,009 buses will be provided for from Morre Emanabad to Gakhar GT Road metro bus route and other feeder routes while four depots will be established for metro buses on GT Road. The minister said the relevant authorities should take necessary steps to clear the metro bus route from all kinds of obstacles, widen the roads where the width of the roads is less, remove encroachments and construct flyovers where flyovers are needed, while building underground stations is also being considered. He said the project will be completed in such a way that the travel needs of the city and surrounding areas can be met in every respect so that the people get real relief.

The commissioner and the secretary transport said the Punjab Chief Minister has directed to run feeder buses from Lahore to Gujranwala, after which the metro bus project will be completed within a year.

During the briefing on the Metro Bus project, they pointed out the essential issues and directed the heads of the relevant departments to complete their homework and immediately start their work for uninterrupted power supply on the bus routes.