March 8, 2003	Saturday	Muharram 4, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, March 7: The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has decided to impose a ban on plying public transport vehicles older than 1998 model in the capital, and announced a three-month deadline to replace such vehicles.

This was decided in a high-level meeting of the RTA officials with deputy commissioner Tariq Mehmood Khan here on Friday. The meeting was also attended by SSP Syed Kaleem Imam, RTA secretary, director road, traffic engineer and traffic inspectors traffic of all sectors.

The authority warned the owners of public transport vehicles to follow the deadline, otherwise the route permits of their vehicles would be cancelled.

The RTA also decided to introduce Radio Taxi Cars in the city, and directed the cab drivers to install fare meters in their vehicles within three months. The cabs without meters will not be permitted to ply on roads.

A new route from Margalla Town to F-11 Service Road was also approved on the occasion. On their way, the public transport vehicles on this route would also pass from Dhokri Chowk, Aabpara, Zero Pint, G-8 Markaz, Tipu Chowk, F-8 Markaz, Shaheen Chowk and F-10 Markaz.

The authority also decided to launch a survey for the approval of another route from Tarnol to Pak Secretariat.

The bus terminal of G-9, Karachi Company, was legalized till the construction of the bus terminal at I-11.

It was also decided to construct bus terminals having grills on all stops to introduce queue system.