BRT project getting on people's nerves in Peshawar.

Byline: Sadia Qasim Shah

PESHAWAR -- Almost two years down the lane and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project promised to be completed in six months is still underway and getting on the nerves of the people of Peshawar.

With their businesses down for the last two years, this rapid bus transit project has spread intolerance, anxiety, frustration and stress to many living in Peshawar rapidly.

The project initiated by the previous provincial government of PTI few months before going into elections is still underway and seriously affecting the mental health of the people of Peshawar.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan recently at an interactive session with students assured them that the project would be completed by the end of the year and it would be a good facility for the people of Peshawar.

Psychiatrist says mental stress and frustration can lead to intolerance in society

All this while the work on project continues so does the agony of the everyday commuters, who have to deal with all kinds of traffic coming from all directions violating all traffic rules and at most times remains standstill due to an unexpected pulling down of a faulty structure, digging or construction work due to change in design of the ongoing project.

'You have not seen the bundle of pills that I carry around. I have become mentally sick due to this BRT project,' said Mohammad Saleem, who runs cloth business in a shop on a roadside almost closed owing to the scheme.

The residents of Peshawar have seen people blown up in bombings as the city has witnessed all kinds of acts of terrorism for almost a decade but peace of mind still seems to evade Peshawar's people as ongoing work on BRT project keeps them constantly at unease. Not only roads on both sides have shrunk due to construction of BRT fenced lane, the tolerance level has also shrunk and road rage is quite common in Peshawar now.

'The customers can't park and have to take a U-turn quite far away and no customer means no business and this is driving me mentally sick,' said Mr Saleem, who simply prayed...