RAWALPINDI: Though the Rs44.2 billion metro bus project is nearing completion, the City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) is yet to find a space for the establishment of parking plazas on Murree Road.

The parking plazas would be constructed near the metro bus stations to facilitate the commuters to park their private vehicles there and use the metro bus service between the twin cities.

A senior official told Dawn that the provincial government had asked the CDGR to purchaseland for the parking plazas before the completion of the metro bus project. He said the government wanted to construct the parking plazas on a private-public partnership basis. However, the CDGR did not make any progress on the project. He said the local government also failed to build a parking plaza on the site of the defunct Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) at City Saddar Road.

After the completion of the metro bus project, he added, the CDGR would start the construction of the parking plazas which would take a year to complete. During this period, there would be another traffic gridlocks on the busy artery, he added.

He said last year the CDGR had selected two sites for the parking plazas a vacant piece of land adjacent to Liaquat Bagh and another at Teli Mohallah. But later the CDGR handed over the sites to the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company for the parking of garbage trucks.

Commissioner Rawalpindi Zahid Saeed, whois also the director of the metro bus project, told Dawn that the plazas would be constructed on Murree Road to facilitate the commuters to park their vehicles and use the metro bus service.

`The local administration is looking for the sites but due to the higher market price of land on Murree Road, we have decided to get the land a few metres away from the main road. A final shape will be given to the project in a few days.

He said the provincial government would provide funds for the construction of the plazas.

After the completion of the metro bus project, the government would launch more projects to facilitate the commuters of the metro bus service.

`The Punjab government will provide funds for the construct of an underpass to connect Double Road with 9th Avenue. The funds will be allocated in the annual development programme.` He said a feasibility study would be launched soon to ascertain whether an underpass or a flyover should be constructed to connect the two roads.is also the director of the metro bus project, told Dawn that the plazas would be constructed on Murree Road to facilitate the commuters to park their vehicles and use the metro bus service.

`The local administration is looking for the sites but due to the higher market price of land on Murree Road, we have decided to get the land a few metres away from the main road. A final shape will be given to the project in a few days.

He said the provincial government would provide funds for the construction of the plazas.

After the completion of the metro bus project, the government would launch more projects to facilitate the commuters of the metro bus service.

`The Punjab government will provide funds for the construct of an underpass to connect Double Road with 9th Avenue. The funds will be allocated in the annual development programme.` He said a feasibility study would be launched soon to ascertain whether an underpass or a flyover should be constructed to connect the two roads.