New project proposed which involves engaging smaller coasters, vans with relaxed conditions. PHOTO: FILE
Officials believe that stringent conditions for operating the air-conditioned, 30-seat coaster service became hindered the success of the proposed project.
However, the government has now proposed a new project which will include small coasters or vans to ferry passengers at minimal fares.
For the initial project, the Rawalpindi district administration had demanded that buses or coasters plying in the project have trunk space for luggage on either side of the carriage.
Due to the tough condition, only a single company — Faisal Movers — filed an application to Rawalpindi Transport Authority (RTA) and the district administration. Moreover, they suggested fares of around Rs270 to Rs280 per person.
The company, though, was denied a route permit since it did not have sufficiently large trunks in its vehicles as demanded by the district admiration.
In the absence of any formal transport facility on this route, it has allowed private transporters to fill the void but at exorbitant rates. Private transporters charge as much as Rs1,000 to Rs1,200 to take passengers from Saddar in Rawalpindi to the airport while they charge between Rs2,000 to Rs2,500 from passengers who are living in Bahria Town or Rawat.
At night, these fares escalate to between Rs3,000 to Rs4,000.
After receiving several complaints from passengers, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) in Rawalpindi has 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 for the buses was set at Rs200 for passengers travelling 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. In this regards, it had been decided that three bus stations would be built at Rawat, Koral Chowk and the IIA. Around three to four kanals of land has already been allocated for this purpose. Given the shortage of time and resources, the authority had initially planned to operate the service by engaging a private transport company.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2019.
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