FDA prepares to launch Rs70b metro bus project

City's first-ever mass transport scheme will cover three major routes

JARANWALA:

The Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) has intensified efforts to implement a Metro Bus Service system in Faisalabad, with an estimated cost of Rs70 billion.

The project, green-lit by the Punjab government, aims to provide comfortable and affordable intra-city transport to Faisalabad's residents.

FDA Director General Chaudhry Muhammad Asif shared details of the project during a media briefing. He revealed that initial planning, including a multi-dimensional survey, sectoral counts and a comprehensive strategic transport framework, has been completed.

The initiative marks the first time Faisalabad will see such a large-scale public transport project.

Last week, a consultative workshop chaired by Punjab Minister for Transport and Mass Transit, Bilal Akbar Khan, took place in Lahore. Representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), along with transport and planning officials, participated in the meeting to discuss the administrative and technical aspects of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

International and national experts briefed attendees on the project's design, operation, and proposed routes.

Asif emphasised that the Punjab government and ADB have partnered to introduce a state-of-the-art public transport system in Faisalabad. The BRT system is designed to offer a high-capacity, cost-effective, and eco-friendly bus service, similar to those already operational in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar.

Mehar Muhammad Ayub, Chief Engineer of FDA, provided an overview of the proposed Metro Bus routes.

The first route will stretch from Kamalpur Motorway Interchange to Samundri Road Bypass via key city points, including General Bus Stand, Red Crescent Chowk, and Novelty Bridge.

The second route will cover Narwala Ada to Satiana Road Fish Farm, while the third will link Jhang Road to Jaranwala Road, with Red Crescent Chowk serving as the central junction for all three routes. Ayub also highlighted plans for feeder routes to ensure comprehensive transport coverage across Faisalabad.

The Punjab government has already approved 100 electric buses for the city to provide eco-friendly transport.