Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The pitiable plight of ill planned Rs 44 billion mega Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project is transmitting only one categorical message that quality has been absolutely compromised in construction of this mass transit project of twin cities.

During the survey conducted by Daily Times in respect of almost all stations of MBP it came to light that elevators in almost all the stations are dysfunctional and out of order and their condition has gone from bad to worse. No one is there to take responsibility to give reply to thorny question slipping from every one lip why the repair work has not been carried out on this count.

The stations have turned into source of perpetual agony for special and elderly persons for the hardships they have to endure in their attempt to reach the place carved out for catching the bus as the lifts become an impediment on their way to bus terminal.

Their tale of failure in boarding on bus poses always question why these elevators were installed with spending million of rupees if they were to be left idle and dysfunctional.

Ibne Sina Station was in highly miserable plight as the commuters were overtaken by rainfall under the roof of the station which was seeping and the bus station staff was stopping the citizens from taking photographs of this hapless station and its hapless commuters.

The situation at Chaman and Katchery stations was alike what was prevailing at Ibne Sina station.

Metro bus card was introduced to facilitate the commuters in order to save them from standing in long queues for obtaining ticket. Automatic cash receivers were installed for recharging these cards. These machines cost million of rupees to national exchequer. But they had turned into drain on treasury as they were seen lying out of order at most of the stations particularly Ibne Sina station.

Now the card holders who had purchased the cards to avoid long lines of commuters have to become part of the queues to obtain token.

A card holder told Daily Times that he had got card valuing Rs 120 to avoid long queues of commuters for obtaining ticket, but the machine is dysfunctional.

The electronic water coolers were installed at every station to serve cold drinking water to commuters but they had lost their meaning as electricity supply was found disconnected to them and the commuters were forced to drink hot water. How ironical it is that heavy generators are available at every station to run all electronic gadgets, fans, lights and machines, but it is incomprehensible why the water cooler are not kept switched on.

If one review the prevailing condition of all the stations it is clear Kashmir Highway station is worst ever station in terms of cleanliness arrangements and other facilities. It wears look of Pirwadhai bus terminal even in mild rainfall. All the elevators are dysfunctional and water is seeping from everywhere. Tiles stand uprooted. Automatic recharge machine does nowhere exist on this station. When asked from the staff of the station they told Daily Times that machine was out of order and was sent for repair.

When again asked these machines were new and what was the reason these had gone out of order, they offered a quizzical smile but no reply. Daily Times talked to some leading engineers to ascertain their stance and they were unanimous in their opinion that whatever job is done in haste meets the same doom what these stations are facing.

Daily Times tried repeatedly to contact Hanif Abbasi Chairman MBP but he did not bother to give any reply.