Daily Times

The federal capital has witnessed the inauguration of the Metro Bus Service on Thursday amid great pomp and show. Indeed, it is a masterpiece of the country’s construction and engineering skills and promises to end the travelling woes of residents of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The project has been completed in 13 months at a cost of almost Rs 45 billion compared to the Lahore Metro Bus Service that incurred a cost of Rs 30 billion. The project comprises a dedicated signal-free track of 23 kilometres with 24 stations equipped with all modern features. It will benefit around 150,000 commuters of the twin cities. The project is being presented as a model of development but the fact is that the country is passing through serious crises due to the wrong set of priorities of the government. The Punjab government is focusing on cities that are already developed and need less attention compared to those backward areas in Punjab that are facing utter neglect. There are 34 districts in Punjab and among them many areas are completely deprived of roads, heath, education facilities and even basic needs of life like electricity and gas. No one can deny the importance of mass transit projects for a growing urban population. But the genuine reservations of the public at large should be addressed first. The Punjab government has completed this project at the cost of other important needs that were put on the back burner. Energy, health, education and the environment are serious areas of concern that need the government’s attention. The operational cost of the project is very high and the government will subsidise it by putting a burden on the national exchequer. Adverse impacts of the project in terms of environmental degradation have been overlooked and it would take time and consistent efforts to redeem Islamabad’s serene atmosphere.

All over the world, bus rapid transit systems are considered the least efficient and most costly compared to other mass transit systems that target a large population instead of small sections. Can the government guarantee that the metro bus will not have to be buttressed in the future with a light rail network as Lahore is now contemplating? Surely a complete rethink is needed while venturing into such mega projects. Fingers are also being raised about the project as a political gimmick. The Metro Bus Service in Lahore was announced ahead of the 2013 elections and now this metro bus service in Islamabad may have some other political gains in mind. The government needs to adopt a rational agenda and focus on the more urgent needs of the masses instead of following its dreams that comprise nothing but showpiece development projects. *