Change in design, cost of BRT to increase by Rs2.5b

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: An increase of 2.5 billion rupees in cost of Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit is expected due to over a dozen changes introduced in design of the project.

The Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit is a multi-billion project of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to provide comfortable and latest traveling facilities to the people of province.

According to Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) sources, major changes in design of the project have been introduced which will increase the cost of the project by Rs2.5 billion.

Nine major changes have been introduced in three sections which include construction of underground station at Aman Chowk and construction of new flyover with Arbab Skindar Khan Khalil Flyover for BRT.

Meanwhile, it has been decided to keep a passage way for airport near CSD in Section II and bus stop opposite to FG School has been shifted to Aman Chowk.

It has also been decided to pass the bus via flyover in Tatara Park and Tehkal so that the flow of traffic should not be affected.

An increase of 2.5 billion rupees was expected due to changes brought in project for bringing betterment in it.

However, Director General (DG) PDA, Israr ul Haq insisted that the changes brought in the project for its betterment would not affect cost of project and it will be completed at cost of earlier allocated amount of Rs49 billion. He said that we want to complete the project at earlier but don’t want any hitch in the project in haste.