Transit plans: Metro bus to have monopoly on Murree Road

Public transport plying on routes one and three to be allotted alternative routes.

RAWALPINDI: Authorities have announced to ban public transport on Murree road after the inauguration of the much-awaited Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project.

Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Secretary Awais Manzoor Tarar said the decision has been conveyed to public transporters. He, however, added that transporters will be allotted alternative routes to ply on.

The new routes, he said, will feed the metro bus service.

The authority has decided to change route 1, which is currently plying from Pak Secretariat to Faizabad and then Saddar.

The new route will start from Misrial road to Pak Secretariat via Kutchery, Rawal Road and Faizabad.

Similarly, public transport plying on route 6 will now start their round from Liaqat Colony, Chakri road and reach Pak Secretariat via Kutchery, Rawal Road, Chandni Chowk, Kurri Road and the expressway.

Route No 3 will also be changed. The RTA secretary said that more routes will be announced later.

Apart from this, a coaster service will also be launched between Saddar and Taxila in collaboration with a private company.

Tarar claimed the traffic load on Murree road will reduce after the inauguration of the metro bus.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2015.