Metro to resolve problems in one go

The Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project is not merely a bus service but a comprehensive package of facilities that aims at ameliorating the citizens’ lot who hail from different segments of society.
Looking at all the aspects of this project that has also been completed with record speed comparable with any early-harvest project of the modern, scientifically advanced world, it is like a multidimensional operation that can be given the name of a panacea of many ills.
In all practical terms, it is going to be a panacea of numerous social-cum-urban problems with equal attention being given to the inhabitants of urban peripheries in the adjoining villages. The Metro project Rawalpindi-Islamabad, according to the experts and engineers, is a markedly improved version of Metro Bus project of Lahore that too is running successfully to the advantage of common men who are pursuing their daily chores and duties with much ease and comfort by just paying Rs20 per trip from one corner of the city to the other.
The Pindi-Islamabad project is an improved version to a great degree in the sense that the lessons learnt from the practical operation of Metro Bus Lahore have been made use of in the Metro project in the twin cities.
The credit goes to the leadership of Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif for initiating this project in keeping with their commitments and pledges made to the people of Pakistan to improve their living standards and at the same time rid them of the discomforts that have tended to aggravate in the wake of unbridled price hike and economic tribulations.
In this backdrop, Metro bus and train projects can be called ‘an oasis of relief in the desert of price hike/economic tribulations’ since these projects will not only lessen the financial burden of the citizens during day-to-day intra-city travel but also provide fresh impetus to their mobility that helps, in turn, to increase their efficiency.
The benefits are not only limited to less expenditure and comfortable, speedy travel. Instead, there is a big package of benefits accruing to the commoners in many ways.
The first and the foremost benefit will accrue to the national economy that is already progressing at a satisfactory pace due to the ongoing development schemes including the Metro projects. The Pindi-Islamabad project is a mega development project involving an investment of Rs44 billion which has accelerated the development works and injected substantial amount of money in the thirsty economy that has been in need of adequate funding to stand on its feet.
With these things having been accomplished, the economic activity has gone quite high which has brightened the prospects of more funds’ inflow into the national economy for the completion of other projects of public benefit.
The Metro bus project Pindi-Islamabad brings along with it a route that will provide greater connectivity and accessibility to the people of twin cities. According to the experts, the combined population of Islamabad and Rawalpindi has doubled during the last five years which had necessitated the resolution of accompanying transport problems much earlier. The government realized this public problem well in time and launched the project by way of appropriate and intelligent prioritisation in the area of project-funding. The government also believes that it is never too late to start. Hence the mega development projects that are coming up in rapid succession without fail and without break.
It is also being opined widely that Pindi-Islamabad Metro bus will attract greater number of tourists from all over the country as well as abroad who would feel yet more secure and comfortable during their tour of Islamabad, thus being able to enjoy the scenic beauty of the capital.
Psychologists also view this project as having soothing effect on human mind because they think that safe and secure travel decreases the rate of crime during travelling. Additionally, the traffic accidents will also be reduced considerably.
For pedestrians, it is going to be a boon since the flow of public transport system is going to improve and become smooth with the launching of Metro bus project. Due to this project, the pedestrians will become more safe and secure.
In atmospheric and ecological terms, this Green project was direly needed especially in view of the rising population graph. The planners of Metro bus have also kept in mind the universities and educational institutions’ locations. In the instant project, extra concern has been shown for the students’ travelling facilities. Almost all the major educational institutions, universities and medical colleges fall on the Metro’s route which means more and more comfort for the students travelling to their places of study.
Apart from educational institutions, a number of hospitals and laboratories including PIMS, Poly Clinic, Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Hospital also fall on this route. In fact, the route has been planned to cover all these areas and provide facilities to commuters to reach these hospitals and laboratories with comfort, speed and without much expenditure. This facility will also ease the lives of people facing health emergency issues besides addressing the traffic congestion issues.
The Metro road in Rawalpindi is 8.6 km long and has been constructed at height whereas the 14-km road in Islamabad is completely signal-free built with different intersections.
As for the number of Metro stations, they are 24 in number. The purpose for having this much number of stations is to accommodate.e greater number of citizens.
These figures and plans show the seriousness of the government in resolving the people’s problems not only through rapid, low-cost bus travel but also through greater connectivity among different areas of the twin cities and through fast access to hospitals and educational institutions.