Pindi to launch air-conditioned bus service to IIA

DRTA initiative aimed at encouraging private vehicle users to switch to public transport

RAWALPINDI: With sweltering temperatures making commute difficult, the Rawalpindi District Regional Transport Authority (DRTA) has decided to launch an air-conditioned express bus service from Rawalpindi to the Islamabad International Airport (IIA) on two newly classified routes to encourage private vehicle users to switch over to public transport.

Rawalpindi RTA Secretary Khalid Yamin Satti said that the authority has invited proposals from private bus operators for this purpose and that the last date to submit the proposal was July 25.

Earlier, citizens had urged the authorities to start a bus service to cover the 35-kilometre-long distance to the new IIA to facilitate passengers.

A project to facilitate the passengers travelling from Rawalpindi to the IIA in air-conditioned buses was delayed last year due to a disagreement between transporters and the district administration.

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The DRTA plans to start the bus service to the airport from two locations in the city, including Rawat and Koral Chowk.

The rouge from Rawat passes 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, from Koral Chowk, passes the old Benazir Bhutto International Airport, then to Ammar Chowk, Kutcheri Chowk, Saddar, Peshawar Road and culminates at the new airport.

Private companies had proposed fare of Rs30 from one station to other. Regular commuters could also purchase monthly cards at a cost of Rs2,500.

In the first phase, 20 buses were supposed to ply 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 air-conditioned buses was set at Rs200 from the old airport to the new airport. Fare for passengers climbing on from Rawat was Rs70 to reach to the old airport. Passengers travelling from Rawat to the new airport were to be charged Rs270.

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A bus was supposed to depart from its station 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. However, the condition of predefined stops did not conform to the behaviour patterns of locals. This irked the transporters who demanded to increase the number of stops near Rawat and the airport so that they could fill up more passengers and increase returns on each trip.

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

The RTA secretary had previously said that they will set up proper bus stations and stands at every five-kilometres along the route of the bus to facilitate commuters.

This has posed a problem for the passengers making their way to the IIA via Rawalpindi and had to hire taxis some of which charged up to Rs2,000 in fares.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 08^th, 2019.