Shuttle service to new airport in doldrums

Transporters protest against absence of stop at Rawat, additional stops along route


Qaiser Sherazi June 25, 2018
The minister inspected different sections of the airport and expressed satisfaction over the working and operations. PHOTO: GOVT OF PAKISTAN

RAWALPINDI: While the new Islamabad International Airport comes to grips with problems inside the building such as faulty carousels to a leaking roof, a project to facilitate passengers heading to the facility from Rawalpindi is apparently up in the air.

A project to ferry passengers from Rawalpindi to the new Islamabad International Airport (IIA) in air-conditioned buses has been delayed owing to a tiff between transporters and the administration.

The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) in Rawalpindi had planned to start a bus service to the airport, operating from two locations in the city including Rawat and Koral Chowk.

One route would start from Rawat, pass through Kutcheri Chowk, Saddar, Peshawar Road, Chor Chowk, Pirwadhai Mor, Golra Mor, Chungi 26, and Motorway Chowk before heading to the new airport.

The other route would commence from Koral Chowk and head to the Benazir Bhutto International Airport, then to Ammar Chowk, Kutcheri Chowk, Saddar and Peshawar Road and would conclude at the new airport.

In the first phase, 20 buses were supposed to operate between the new airport and the old airport while picking up passengers from 10 pre-designated stops between Rawat and the new airport.

The fare on the buses was set at Rs200 from the old airport to the new airport. Passengers climbing on from Rawat would have to pay a mere Rs70 to get to the old airport. Passengers travelling from Rawat to the new airport were to be charged Rs270 as fare.

A bus was supposed to depart from its station after every 15 minutes.

Given the shortage of time and resources, the authority had initially planned to operate the service by engaging a private transport company.

Ruckus at new Islamabad airport as conveyor belt breaks down for second consecutive day

However, with the service having predefined stops which did not conform to the behaviour patterns of locals, it irked the transporters who demanded more stops near Rawat and near the airport so that they could fill up passengers and maximise returns on each trip.

The situation worsened when the RTA failed to build a stop for the buses in Rawat after the administration allegedly refused to allocate land for the purpose.

RTA Secretary Khalid Yameen Satti had previously said that they will set up proper bus stations and stands at every five-kilometre along the route of the bus to facilitate commuters.

This has posed a problem for passengers making their way to IIA via Rawalpindi who have to then hail taxis which can charge up to Rs2,500 in fares. These can go up to as much as Rs4,000 at night.

Airport services to be improved

Caretaker Federal Minister for Aviation Abdullah Haroon visited the IIA on Sunday to review flight operations and provision of facilities to passengers.

The federal minister said that they were working to ensure the provision of best services to passengers at the new airport as per international standards.

Haroon added that they were also working to address the grievances and problems faced by passengers at a toll plaza of the National Highway Authority (NHA) located near the new airport. He hoped that these issues would be resolved soon.

The minister inspected different sections of the airport and expressed satisfaction over the working and operations.

In pictures: New Islamabad International Airport inches closer to inauguration

Earlier, Airport Security Force (ASF) Chief Security Officer (CSO) briefed the aviation minister on the security measures undertaken at the airport and its surrounding areas.

A detailed briefing was also given to the minister by CAA officials regarding the operations and facilities provided to airlines and passengers.

Airport Manager and high officials of Civil Aviation Authority, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Aviation Division were also present on the occasion.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2018.

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