Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the BRT project in Peshawar today.

PESHAWAR (13-Aug-2020) Prime Minister Imran Khan will today inaugurate the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project for which all preparations have been completed. Former Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Governor Sindh will also attend the inauguration ceremony. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has completed the project after two and a half years. BRT test service has been declared successful A few side projects connected to will be carried forward after the inauguration.

The project has been plagued by controversy and problems for two years and ten months. In October 2017, the then Chief Minister Pervez Khattak laid the foundation stone of his mega project Peshawar BRT and announced its completion in a short span of six months. Less than six months had passed since the controversy and flaws in the project arose. The initial cost of the BRT was estimated at Rs 49.34 billion, which increased to Rs 70.72 billion.

Due to poor planning, the project continued to be disrupted for two and a half years. For the completion of the project, seven official deadlines were given from Pervez Khattak till now. Billions of rupees of corruption related to the project have been circulating for two and a half years. In December 2019, the Peshawar High Court ordered the FIA ​​to investigate, but the provincial government took a stay order from the Supreme Court. Some constituencies are still pointing out that the plan is flawed and technical issues. On which 220 air-conditioned buses will be run. For the convenience of the people, two routes of 31 stops have been set up and the initial fare of the bus is only Rs. 10. BRT route goes from Chamkani to Karkhano market. Buses on the track seven days a week. Will run from six in the morning to ten at night.

For the convenience of the public, two routes have been introduced on the same track. One route from Chamkani to Karkhano Market consists of 7 stops and the journey will be completed in 45 minutes. The other route has 31 stops and the journey will be completed in one hour. The fare for the first five kilometers has been kept at Rs 10. The fare will increase by Rs 5 after every five kilometers. A cycling track has also been constructed along the BRT route. Access has been provided through feeder routes from five locations. Modern facilities including Wi-Fi have been provided on buses and platforms.

The cycling track at BRT Peshawar sets it apart from other metro services. In the first phase, cycling facilities have been provided from the University of Peshawar to Hayatabad. The front of the bus is reserved for women. Seats are also reserved for special persons. Citizens must obtain a "Zoo Card" to travel on BRT buses. The Zoo Card can be obtained through the ticket office or ticket vending machine at each BRT station.

Citizens can get a card for a payment of Rs 150. However, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is already distributing one lakh cards free of cost. One person can get only one card. To travel by bus, the card must have a balance of at least Rs 50. Cash can be recharged via cash, credit or debit card and online mobile banking. The free Zoo mobile app can also be downloaded from Google Play Store or Apple Store which provides all the details of the bus service. Has gone.