MBS PINDI-ISB Towards An Efficient Society

Lahore(Ather Ali Khan DGPR):An efficient transport system, which facilitates timely movement of thousands of people to their work places in a hassle fee, smooth and honourable manner can rightly be considered as the backbone of the economy of a nation. No mega city of the world can expand, flourish, prosper and sustain without a suitable transport system. We are all witness to the well-organized transport system of the developed cities like London and New York and other cosmopolitan cities, which are used by millions of people daily for their day-to-day work. Governments in these countries know the significance of mass transit system and therefore invest heavily in this sector for easing transportation of the people.

Realizing the importance of mass transit system, Government of the Punjab, under the stewardship of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, kicked off work on the first ever bus rapid transit system of Pakistan in Lahore , the heart of Pakistan, in February 2012.  At a cost of Rs. 29.8 billion, the project was executed in a record time of 11 months, the shortest possible duration for executing such projects. The system, later named as Metrobus System, is benefitting 150 thousand people daily in Lahore.

Encouraged by the success of the system in the provincial metropolis, the Punjab Government has decided to spread the fruits of progress to other cities if the province as well. Ground breaking ceremony of Metrobus system in Rawalpindi-Islamabad has been performed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on the eve of Pakistan Day on 23 March 2014. Total length of the track will be 22.5 Kilometers and completion time of the project is 10 months.

Rawalpindi and Islamabad are commonly called twin cities because of the location, geographical proximity, climate and other socio-economic and historical reasons. Heavy influx of people is witnessed every morning in these two cities as thousands of people daily travel between the two cities for jobs, education, business and for various other reasons.

Since its very foundation, Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, has attracted people from all over Pakistan, making it one of the most cosmopolitan and urbanized cities of Pakistan and centre of economic and service activities which attract people from all over the country.

The population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1961 to 1.30 million in 2012, making it the ninth largest city in the country.  Adjacent to the Southern edge of Islamabad lies the city of Rawalpindi. Being Headquarter of Rawalpindi Division and a close neighbour of the Federal Capital, Islamabad, the population of Rawalpindi City has rapidly increased over the years.

Murree Road is one of the busiest and most preferred link between the twin cities due to its shorter length and direct approach. During the last few years there has been an unprecedented increase in vehicular traffic in the city, especially along Murree Road, resulting in severe traffic congestion on this route. This congestion causes excessive delays, environmental pollution and associated socio-economic problems for the daily commuters. Public transport is one of the major contributors in the traffic mix and the quality of service being provided is of poor standard.

The greater Islamabad – Rawalpindi Metropolitan Area is the third largest conurbation in Pakistan with a population of over 4.5 million inhabitants. The Twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi are growing at a rate of more than 4 percent per annum, indicating a higher than national growth due to significant migration. With present growth trends it is expected that the population would increase to 7.0 million in twenty years’ time.Since both cities have grown into each other, significant amount of commuting takes place between the two cities. Currently private transport is the major means of mobility between two cities comprising of Mazda, Toyota Hiace, and Suzuki vans plying on various routes within and between the two cities.

There is no organized urban bus transport service operating in the city and between cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Level of service offered by the minibuses is far below any acceptable standard.Traffic volumes of over 210,000 vehicles ply on three major corridors connecting both the cities carrying around 525,000 passengers.

It is estimated that public transport demand of around 153,000 passengers is available on daily basis between the two cities. Interestingly this passenger demand is concentrated around a corridor which is of high density and strategically located to provide for reasonable patronage for a rapid transit system.

Based on studies conducted by Government of Punjab and Capital Development Authority, the two governments (Federal & Provincial) joined hands to launch a Metro Bus project to connect the twin cities and alleviate the traffic congestion on this corridor. In a meeting held in Lahore on 19^th January 2014, co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Chief Minister of Punjab, it was decided that the project shall be funded on 50:50 sharing basis by the Federal Government & Government of the Punjab.

As the Punjab Government has already completed successfully a similar Metro Bus project in Lahore, Prime Minister of Pakistan decided that the Provincial Government will execute this project through Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) as the single executing agency for both parts of the project.

It will work in close coordination with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for the Islamabad Part of the project. Punjab Metrobus Authority (PMA) will control the operation & maintenance of the project after its completion. PMA will also coordinate with CDA at O&M stage of the project.

The project will start from near Flashman Hotel on Mall Road Rawalpindi and follow the existing Murree Road upto Faizabad. It will then turn left into the federal territory and follow I.J.P. road upto 9^th Avenue. Thereafter, it will turn right and follow the 9^th Avenue in Islamabad then turn right on Jinnah Avenue upto the end of Blue Area. From Blue Area a connection to Secretariat stop will be provided through the open space behind parade ground. It will cross the Constitution Avenue and another couple of main roads through underpasses. However, the remaining length of this section is also designed on a lower level in an open Trench section keeping in view various security constraints.

Total length of the track will be 22.5 Kilometers which will be constructed at a cost of Rs.44 billions. The length of 8.6 km of Metro Bus corridor in Rawalpindi area shall be elevated structure whereas about 14 km in Islamabad shall be at-grade but made signal-free by constructing grade separations at various intersections. Ten (10) stations in the Rawalpindi Part and fourteen (14) in the Islamabad Part are provided along the corridor. Functional elements at the stations include ticketing booths, concourse level passenger transfer, escalators, platform screen doors turnstiles for automatic fare collection and all other amenities for passenger convenience. A central ITS control room is also included in the project to control the whole operation of the Metro Bus system.

Initially the provision of a 10 lane Underpass (2 Lanes for Metro Bus and 8 Lanes for mix traffic) along the 9^th Avenue was proposed at Peshawar Mor intersection. Later on, in view of the traffic issues at Peshawar Mor intersection, ongoing Widening/Rehabilitation of Kashmir Highway & its link with new Islamabad Airport, it was decided to dovetail the Metro Bus corridor in the interchange already designed by CDA which will cost Rs. 6.75 Billion. The same will be simultaneously executed with Metro Bus Project.