Capital to have full-fledged mass transit
City managers have started preparing a comprehensive plan to provide modern and full-fledged transport service to the citizens of Islamabad.
Sources said that on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, city managers have put together a plan to launch the new transit bus service. The prime minister will lay the foundation of the transport project.
According to the sources, the public transport project, which has been prepared with the help of experts from a top university of the capital, will have 13 routes initially and it will be expanded over time.
The sources said that state-of-the-art stations and bus terminals will be constructed for the mass transit and initially 200 buses will be run on the 13 routes. Buses for mass transit will be imported from China and the project would be launched in 2023.
Under the project, Route-1 will be from Police Foundation to Faiz Ahmed Faiz Station, Route-2 from Allama Iqbal University to Pothohar Station, Route-3 be from Shifa International Hospital to I/8 Markaz, Route-4 from PIMS Hospital to Embassy Road via G-7, G-6, Melody Market, NADRA stop, Route-5 from D-12 to G-10, Route-6 from F-11 to F-8 Markaz, Route-7 from G-11, G-10, G-9 and G8 Markaz.
Similarly, Route-3-A will be from PIMS Hospital to Secretariat via Jinnah Super Market and Super Market, Route-3-B from Aabpara to Taramri Chowk, Nilore and up to Khana Bridge, Route-9 will be from Pirwidhai Chowk to Faizabad, IJP Road, Route-10-B will be from 17 to 26 Number Chungi, Route-11 will be from I/16 to 26 Number Chungi.
Sources said since the metro bus service operating between the twin cities and on some routes in Islamabad was providing affordable and quality travel facilities to the residents of city areas, there was a dire need to expand the project and provide modern transport facilities to the residents including women and students of far-off areas, who have to change two to three vehicles to reach their destination.
They said that the mass transit project was being planned to provide the citizens of the capital with quality and affordable transportation services.
The sources said that with the operation of the service, not only the traffic flow on the main highways of the capital city will improve but also the citizens will have access to quality and affordable public transport that will also help save time.
PML-N leader and former deputy Mayor of Islamabad Zeeshan Naqvi said that the mass transit will be the biggest transport project in Islamabad.
Sources said that under the proposed mass transit project, modern air-conditioned buses would be run on the routes to ferry thousands of commuters including women, students and office goers daily.
A large number of people including students travel within 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.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2022.