PMBA official said that the authority would advise the new government to set destination-specific fares, along the lines of the rates notified by the Lahore Transport Authority. PHOTO: FILE
Nineteen buses are to be added to the Metro Bus fleet of 45 by the end of June as demand for the new bus service has exceeded expectations in the provincial capital.
The Metro Bus has been inundated with passengers since its opening on February 10. Those behind the project had expected the crowds to thin out after the initial excitement of travelling on the shiny new 27-km bus corridor and elevated track wore off. But the crowds did not thin out and some 120,000 people a day on average are using the bus service.
The Punjab Metro Bus Authority (PMBA) ordered 19 new buses around a month after the inauguration. The buses from China Volvo are to arrive in Karachi by June 20, and in Lahore some 10 days later.
“We ordered new buses because of the high passenger load,” said PMBA General Manager (Operations) Uzair Shah.
The expansion of the fleet would mean that the buses wouldn’t always be so packed, he added.
Some 45 buses are operational on the bus-only track on Ferozepur Road. But the authorities have been unable so far to run a smart traffic signalling system at the eight junctions where the bus must interact with general traffic. As a result, the PMBA has struggled to run the buses at fixed intervals as planned.
Lines 2 and 3
The PMBA recently received a feasibility report from Turkish company Ulasim for a second potential Metro Bus line from Thokar Niaz Beg to MAO College along Multan Road, a length of 12.6 kilometres.
Ulasim is also working on a feasibility study for a third line from Azadi Chowk to the Ring Road via the City Railway Station and Daroghewala along GT Road. The report is due in some 30 days.
Shah, the PMBA general manager, said that the report for line 2 was a preliminary one and it would likely undergo several changes, so he did not wish to share it.
He said that the new Punjab government would decide which route to start work on first.
Revised rates
Passengers on the Metro Bus are currently charged a flat rate of Rs20 per journey. A PMBA official said that the authority would advise the new government to set destination-specific fares, along the lines of the rates notified by the Lahore Transport Authority.
According to the LTA rates, the maximum ticket price would be Rs36 for travelling the length of the 27km track.
Shah said that the new government would decide whether to revise the rates or not.
He said that cards had been introduced for regular travellers in February shortly after the bus service was inaugurated.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2013.
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But the problem is that main issue is pakistan isn't travelling. It's education, mismanaged health system and load shedding..... no more investment on such projects please
Metro buses have really helped in traveling through the city, If only Karachi's transport system could improve in any way that would be great.
@Humza: we will rather prefer investment in electricity. Thank you
@fari: are you really sure what you are talking about? Metro still draws huge subsidy from the government daily, and it only facilitates 0.12 m people on a single road. What if these billions were invested in power and even expanding GT road so that almost triple number of people won't have to wait ages to get out of shahdra crossing. A misguided so called leader who pushed tax payer's money in this white elephant for just election publicity. Just try to use a little bit brain before opening your mouth. Regards :) .
Karachi needs it badly!!!!!
The buses from China Volvo are to arrive in Karachi by June 20, and in Lahore some 10 days later. . Such myopic governance. Volvo manufactures buses in India and it would perhaps be cheaper to transport these to Pakistan.
These figures r in the face of -- all Lamers n complainers who with out any idea, or foresight decided to speak against this project ...provoked by their immature leaders ....... i bet these Lamers n Complainers themselves r using this service n again opening their big mouths as the come off the busses ...TYPICAL ...
The Metro Bus Service has proved successful in hardly a few months. After all, the nation needs to adopt more tried and tested things from other nations and bring them to Pakistan. Hopefully this new government will continue to bring these innovations to Pakistan. Getting back to the bus service: now if only all Pakistani cities can develop a similar transit line. It would do wonders to ease congestion in those cities like it has already done in Lahore.