Proposals have been sought from Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) for mass transit between the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The proposed 63-kilometre long mass transit project aims to provide good quality and affordable transport facilities to the people living in far-off areas and the outskirts of the twin cities.
District administration sources told The Express Tribune that the mass transit bus project will be a unique project of its kind and the 63-km long route will be divided into two sections.
In the first section, a 28-km long route has been proposed from GT Road Rawat T Chowk to Blue Area Islamabad. The other 35-km-long section of the route has been proposed between GT Road Kashmir Highway to Rawalpindi Saddar and up to Rawat T Chowk.
Sources said since the metro bus service operating between the twin cities was providing affordable and quality travel facilities to the residents of city areas, there was a dire need to provide such facilities to the residents including women and students of far off areas, who have to change two to three vehicles to reach their destination.
The mass transit project was being planned to provide the citizens of outskirt areas with quality and affordable transportation service, the sources said adding that with the operation of the service, not only the traffic flow on main highways of the twin cities will improve but also the citizens will have access to quality and affordable public transport that will also help save time.
Sources said that the Ministry of Economic Affairs PA&D wing has sought proposals from the RDA asking the civic agency to appoint a grade-20 so that the proposed mass transit project could be dwelt upon.
Sources said that under the proposed mass transit project, modern air-conditioned buses would be run on the two sections to ferry thousands of commuters including women, students and office goers daily.
A large number of people including the students travel between the city areas and its suburbs but owing to the non-availability of decent transportation, they have to face a lot of difficulties as they have to change two to three buses or vans to reach their destinations.
The proposed mass transit will also help do away with the monopoly of private transporters. The Ministry of Economy Affairs will give the final approval after reviewing the proposals, the sources said.
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