students taking their first ride on the metro bus in Islamabad. PHOTO: INP
ISLAMABAD:
Residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Friday thronged the metro bus stations filling the buses to capacity.
People queued up at the metro ticket booths to be among the first to travel by the newly launched service. Besides office goers, families also showed up at the stations on the first day to take a Rs20 ride to Islamabad.
The authorities had also taken ample security arrangements at the stations.
The government employees were also happy that they were reaching their offices in shorter time than before. Faisal, a government employee, said he boarded the bus from Saddar at 7:30am and reached his office at Pak Secretariat within 45 minutes.
Nosheen, a housewife who had come to the Saddar station with her two kids, termed the project a success. The metro stations and track had been decorated with buntings and balloons. Banners in praise of the prime minister and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif were also displayed along the route.
The crowds gathered at the stations welcomed the first bus in the morning with applause.
A life-time pass of Rs130 is available for sale which commuters can load with any amount depending on their needs.
Maximum recharge limit is Rs 1,000 and on each travel Rs20 would be deducted from the account. The service will start at 6am and continue till 11:30pm.
Over 20 bikers booked
Meanwhile, the Islamabad Police arrested 26 bikers on Friday for violating Section 144 of the PPC for riding on the metro bus track.
According to a police spokesman, the district magistrate imposed a ban on public driving on the metro route.
The cases were registered at the Industrial Area Police Station.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2015.
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