PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said Peshawar Rapid Bus Transit System (PRBTS) will add to the beauty of Peshawar and improve its environment, besides overcoming the traffic problem of Peshawar. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of construction work on the project in Chamkani on Thursday, the chief minister said the project was one of the most important development schemes of the province. He said it would become a milestone in the economic development of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The chief minister said the provincial government had taken solid steps to re-shape Peshawar as the ‘city of flowers’, adding that increase in traffic had doubled the difficulties and hardships of the people which would be settled with the completion of the bus rapid transit project. He directed all concerned officials to strictly follow the time period and complete it within the stipulated period of six months. The chief minister directed officials to work on an emergency basis with focus on quality construction work. He directed officials to upgrade the feeding roads and also to start work on the future connectivity and requirements of integrating the whole Peshawar region to the bus rapid transit under the definite aim that Peshawar should have one comprehensive and integrated solution to all traffic related issues. He also directed for additional land acquisition and plans to compensate all those affected by the bus rapid transit project. He told the participants the government were told not to start the project close to the elections as it might affect the party’s vote bank but the project was pivotal for the betterment of the people. He asked anyone to contact him if any irritants emerged in the implementation phase of the project. He said the first batch of the buses would start operating when the corridor of the project is ready. He directed proper implementation of the decisions and directives he issued in this regard. However, he asked the concerned people to coordinate for the supply of buses in Peshawar under the already decided procurement schedule. The mega project, at an estimated cost of Rs 57 billion, would be completed within six months. The 26-kilometre rapid bus transit system would start from Chamkani via GT Road to Hayatabad. The project would have 300 luxury buses, with special compartments for women. About 500,000 passengers would use the bus rapid transit project every day, it was said. Published in Daily Times, October 20th 2017.