Peshawar’s metro bus project has no proper drainage system

Peshawar’s metro bus project is being completed without a functional drainage system, a local government body said Friday.

The Water and Sanitation Services Company, Peshawar informed the Bus Rapid Transit management about its reservations in connection with the drains situation. It also directed the BRT management to install drainage systems wherever needed.

“Most manholes have been covered during laying of pre-mix on the road at both sides along the BRT route in reach-III on GT Jamrud Road, especially in a portion near to the Usmania Restaurant area,” WSSP Zone-III manager said in a letter addressed to the BRT project director.

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“In the absence of manholes, clearance of drains is not possible, due to which overflow occurs on the road in normal days and especially during rain, which is ultimately causing hindrance to smooth flow of traffic and pedestrians.”

The letter read, “To avoid overflow on the main GT Jamrud Road during normal days as well as in rainy seasons, it is requested to direct your concerned staff to recheck the drains capacity, to clear the asphalt from the existing covered manholes and to construct new manholes wherever required.”

The independent corporate utility company called upon the BRT management to reopen the choked manholes and coordinate the newly-constructed manholes with the city’s drainage system. It, however, said its request was not heeded despite repeated reminders.

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The previous provincial government of the PTI led by Pervez Khattak launched the project on October 20, 2017 with the claim that the project would be completed in six months. The project, however, is still under construction and the cost has spiraled from Rs49 billion to over Rs68 billion due to the frequent changes in its design.

According to the revised PC-1 of the project, the estimated cost is over Rs68 billion for which the government was in negotiations with AFD, a French company, to secure a loan for its financing.

In 2014, the provincial government established WSSP under the local governments to provide water and sanitation services at sustainable levels to meet civic needs. The WSSP is functioning in 43 union councils of the city.