Bus stops to be increased around city

City managers decide to overhaul the public transport system.

ISLAMABAD: Keeping in mind the discomfort faced by commuters everyday, the city managers have decided to overhaul the public transport system.

An official of the district administration told The Express Tribune that in a bid to provide better transport services, a survey will be conducted at the end of the month to determine the number of bus stops that need to be increased at different places.

Talking to The Express Tribune, the District Coordination Officer (DCO) Amir Ahmad Ali said the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) were in the planning stages for providing better travelling facilities to the citizens. Increasing the number of bus stops would be first step towards it, he said.

“The number of stops will be increased from 59 to 89. A survey for this purpose will start soon,” he said.

The official also said that the stops will be of international standard and advertisements will be allowed so that the revenue received from these could be used for the improvement of the traffic system of the city.”

The DCO said that overriding will be banned and all those vehicles found not completing their routes will be fined heavily.

“To make sure vehicles complete their routes, Global Positioning System will be installed in the transport so that their location can be determined and monitored.” In reply to a query, the officer said that inter-city transport subsidy is given all over the world, but we do not have such a system.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st, 2010.