ISLAMABAD: The city managers on Friday decided to launch a bus service on Islamabad Expressway on March 23 which would start from Soan River Bus Stop and end at Faisal Mosque.

The Metro Bus Service to Islamabad International Airport will also start its operation on Pakistan Day.

A source said CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed while chairing a meeting on Friday decided that out of the total 30 buses for which orders have been placed, 10 will run on the Islamabad Expressway route from Soan River to Faisal Mosque under the banner of Blue Line Bus Service.

The source said during the meeting it was decided that female students will be allowed to travel free of cost on the Blue Line Bus Service.

The CDA will receive the buses from China where they are currently being manufactured.

“We have placed orders for 30 buses and will receive the buses in March. So today we have decided we will simultaneously launch the Metro Bus Service from Peshawar Mor to the airport and the bus service from Soan River to Faisal Mosque,” said a senior CDA officer.

He said during the meeting the business plan for both the bus services was also discussed and it was decided that the CDA will earmark two fuel and service stations, one along expressway and one near Peshawar Mor and through these two commercial projects the CDA will meet the subsidy on both the projects.

When contacted, the CDA chairman told Dawn that the meeting discussed a business plan and the metro and the Blue Line bus services. About free travel facility for female students, he said: “A final decision is yet to be taken.”

After receiving the buses from China, the CDA will start the metro bus service under interim arrangements as the automated security and command and control system for ticketing will be made operational after six months. The CDA is in process of opening bids for awarding contract for the IT and security system.

They said under a separate project, 29 buses will be procured at a later stage for three main routes - Bhara Kahu to Faizabad, Tarnol to Railway Station to M5 Metro Station and from Soan to Faisal Mosque.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2022