RAWALPINDI: The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) on Thursday approved three new routes to Islamabad International Airport (IIA) and Taxila and called applications from private transporters to ply air-conditioned buses on the routes.

Two routes to the new airport start from Rawat via T-Chowk, Soan Camp, District Courts Chowk, The Mall and from Koral Chowk (Islamabad Highway). The third route will be between Rawat and Taxila.

A senior official of the district administration said earlier the RTA had awarded contract to a private company to launch a bus service between the twin cities and the IIA.

However, the private company refused to ply buses after the district administration failed to provide it a space for the setting up of a bus terminal at Koral Chowk and Rawat.

He said the district administration had requested the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to provide space in the old airport near Koral Chowk for the bus terminal but it rejected the request due to security concerns.

RTA invites private transporters to ply air-conditioned buses between Rawat, Koral Chowk and the new airport

The official said under a proposal the fares would be Rs270 per passenger from Rawat to the IIA (35 km) and Koral Chowk to the IIA (45 km).

On the other hand, passengers have been facing problems to reach the new airport and back as there is no public transport system.

When contacted, RTA Secretary Khalid Yamin Satti said applications had been sought from private transporters instead of companies. He said individual transporters could ply 28-seater air-conditioned buses on the three routes.

He said after receiving the applications the RTA would fix the fares in consultation with the stakeholders.

He said a metro bus service would also start operation between Islamabad and the IIA but the project was yet to be completed.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2020