Critics of Metro Bus Project begin to change stance, tone

Islamabad
As the mega Metro Bus Project enters its final stages, its many critics have begun to change stance and tone.
The impressive all-glass stations and the newly carpeted Jinnah Avenue have surely added to the beauty of the capital and people who were vocal in criticizing the project have now started appreciating it.
“The entire Jinnah Avenue stretch looks particularly impressive especially at night with brightly lit red and white stations,” says Muhammad Anwar, who lives in a nearby neighbourhood.
However, he hoped that once the bus service is operational, the stations and the busses would not be damaged or vandalised as so often happens in our country. Citing an example of the bus stops that CDA developed few years ago, he said they are in poor shape today only because of vandalism and lack of maintenance.
“It is the same with play areas and sit outs created a few years ago. The benches and rides are broken at many places and no one is ready to take responsibility to maintain them,” said Anwar.
Although the first buses have to hit the track, it remains to be seen how well the service is managed in the long run. Already, youngsters are seen playing cricket along Jinnah Avenue at night and jay walkers dot the track.
Also, cyclists use the bus track, finding it convenient and safe.
With no u-turn on Jinnah Avenue and no over head bridges for pedestrians, people have no choice but to walk across the track at this stage.
“We are confused as what will we do once the service is up and running. Will the pedestrians be allowed to use the escalators installed at bus stations to get to the other side of the road,” said Ali Zaman, a local shopkeeper.
The locals in the vicinity of Blue Area also point to the many newly built roads and underpasses which at the moment are confusing for motorists and create problems for the traffic exiting Jinnah Avenue near Kulsum Plaza. It remains to be seen how the traffic police will handle the mess likely to be created in future on either side of Jinnah Avenue at this point.
“I do not understand that one side of the two underpasses at Kulsum Plaza have been blocked by putting up concrete blocks. What is the point of an underpass if it is blocked at one end,” said Ali Zaman.
All in all, people are delighted and looking forward to the big launch expected later this month. If properly run and managed, the Metro will do good to the people who for long have faced hardships in commuting between Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
“I am certain that this bus service will considerably ease people’s lives, those who commute between Rawalpindi and Islamabad each day.