Rawalpindi to get first digitised transport system

Project will provide citizens with comfortable travel, improve vehicle fitness levels

ISLAMABAD:

The first of its kind in Pakistan, a comprehensive strategy has been developed for the digitalisation of the transport system in Rawalpindi to further facilitate commuters.

Informed sources told The Express Tribune that the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) will develop the software for this first digital public transport system in Rawalpindi. Under this project, a control room and an e-tag system will be installed at the Pirwadhai Bus Terminal.

This system will collect complete data on vehicles parked at the bus terminal, including the vehicle's registration number, owner's name, vehicle colour, fitness certificate details, driver's license, route number, and tracking system.

All details of vehicles entering and exiting the bus terminal will be collected in the control room. This will ensure road and passenger safety, and only those vehicles that meet safety and service standards will be allowed to leave the bus terminal.

Following the models of Paris, London, and the United States, Pakistan will benefit from the country's first digitised transportation system. Upon the success of this project, it will be expanded to other cities in Punjab.

The completion of this great project will not only provide citizens with comfortable travel but also help improve vehicle fitness levels. Additionally, citizens will be able to lodge complaints online against any public and government transport services.

Rashid Ali, the Secretary of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), says the model public transport and digitalisation system in Rawalpindi is a masterpiece project for which a plan has been developed.

He told The Express Tribune that the project was the first of its kind in the country's history, saying IT facilities had been obtained from the Punjab Government's IT sector and senior officials from IT and Punjab Transport Department would visit Rawalpindi on September 2 to finalise the project.