Peshawar BRT project not being inaugurated, only test run from March 23: KP minister

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Information Minister Shaukat Yousufzai on Thursday said the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project was not being inaugurated, but the provincial administration was starting its test service from March 23 for a few days.

The provincial minister said so while speaking to Geo News. Inviting the media for coverage, he said the purpose of test service was to identify flaws in the project.

Yousufzai said Chief Minister Mehmood Khan would only inaugurate the project once its buses reached the country.

According to documents pertaining to the project, 11 out of 32 stations of the BRT projects have not been prepared yet, whereas only 21 out of 220 buses have so far been brought to the province.

The first deadline of the project's completion was in April 2018.

On the other hand, Geo News has learnt that the KP chief minister has expressed his immense displeasure over delay in BRT project.

Officials informed Geo News that CM Mehmood Khan would not attend the test service of the project on March 23, adding that the chief minister expressed his severe displeasure during a meeting held two days ago.

They said the chief minister would inaugurate the project after its completion by travelling in the bus alongside general public.

The officials said the meeting had Minister for Local Bodies Shahram Tarakai, chief secretary and other officials in presence.