Residents urge extension of Blue Line route

The residents of housing societies located near the Islamabad Expressway have called for the extension of the route covered by Blue Line metro bus service up to the PWD interchange, with the road widened and construction work complete.

The residents of Korang, Jinnah Garden, PWD, Sohan, and other adjacent societies said that the extension would improve traffic flow on one of the busiest arteries of the twin cities. They said the Blue Line service was originally intended to cover the route but the plan was deferred due to the condition of the road and the subsequent construction and expansion work from Korang Bridge to Rawat.

The demand coincides with the Capital Development Authority's (CDA) decision to roll out 160 electric buses on 13 routes in the capital city.

As the extensive work on the laying of new road lanes has been completed up to PWD interchange, the route of Blue Line service should be extended, said Raziq Shah, a resident of Jinnah Garden. He said it would facilitate a large number of commuters, including student.

Abdul Quddus, a trader in PWD, said the bus service on the expressway had provided much-needed transport facilities to the masses. Now, with traffic movement improved due to the newly constructed multi-lane road from Korang Bridge to Naval Anchorage Housing Society, its route should be immediately expanded to PWD interchange, he asserted.

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Shaheena Jabeen and Humaira, two working women and residents of Korang town, said the bus service had made it convenient for them to go their workplace in the Blue Area.

“But we still have to use private vehicles to get to the Koral bus stand from where we can get on the metro bus,” they said. "It is difficult to travel the distance from the PWD interchange to Koral in a private public,” Humaira added.

A number of residents, including retiree Ahmed Ghulam, suggested the metro bus route should be linked by the creation of additional passages for electric buses, as announced by CDA, from different residential and commercial areas of the locality.

"The Blue Bus serves commuters and residents up to Gulberg Greens. After that, commuters face the same old issues of moving through public transport," said Jameel Babar, who runs an architectural firm.

He suggested increasing the number of buses to cater to the growing number of commuters “who are often huddled beyond capacity in each moving vehicle, particularly during peak hours”. He also suggested extending the service hours.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2023.