Nation’s first double-decker bus service to come to Lahore

Nation’s first double-decker bus service for tourists soon

LAHORE: The Tourism Development Corporation of the Punjab (TDCP) is all set to introduce the nation’s first double-decker bus service for tourists in the city under the name of Sightseeing Lahore.

Managing Director Ahmar Malik told The Express Tribune on Tuesday that two custom-made Volvo buses procured by the corporation for a sum of $376,000 were expected to reach Karachi on September 20. Malik said the service would commence in the middle of October after the buses had arrived in the city between October 9 and 10.

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He said the route of the service had not been finalised. Malik said the buses were expected to ferry tourists between the Walled City and Gaddafi Stadium after obtaining the approval of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. He said the corporation was building terminals in both locales in the projects first phase. Malik said more terminals would be built after the introduction of more routes and induction of more buses.

The MD said one terminal was being built near Punjab Stadium while the other was being constructed in the vicinity of the Fort Road Food Street. He said a myriad of eateries and sites of interest were situated in the areas. Malik said the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) had agreed to cooperate with the PTDC over the initiative. He said the authority would provide a tonga, rickshaw and guide service at the Fort Road Food Street to showcase the city’s heritage. Malik said tourists would have the opportunity to sample Pakistani cuisine at one of the many eateries in Gaddafi Stadium and shop in the many commercial areas nearby including Liberty Market. Malik said the PTDC had examined the standards of similar services in cities like Budapest, Dubai and London across major international tourism conventions. He said each bus could accommodate 67 passengers. Malik said the vehicles would be equipped with a public address system that would allow guides to make tourists aware of the city’s history and places of interest along the route. He said the PTDC would later install LED screens in the buses to screen films regarding Lahore’s culture, art and heritage. He said the corporation intended to run the service in the evening during summer. Malik said the PTDC would increase its frequency in the winter.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2015.