BAHAWALPUR: A fleet of 12 air-conditioned Speedo buses started shuttling between Bahawalpur and Lodhran on Wednesday after the service was inaugurated at a colourful ceremony held at Farid Gate here.

The bus service was inaugurated by nominated Punjab governor Baleeghur Rehman at the ceremony where Commissioner Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Deputy Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathiya and other officials were also present, besides a number of PML-N lawmakers, former MPAs, local leaders and workers. The venue was decorated tastefully to mark the occasion.

On the first day, the passengers, mostly students of different colleges and Islamia University (IUB), had a free ride on the buses.

According to Lodhran DC Shaoiab Ali six buses have been launched each from Lodhran and Bahawalpur to cover total 29kms distance between the two cities. He added that for the passengers, total 22 bus stops, with benches and waiting areas, have been designated.

He said each passenger would be charged Rs30 as fare for travelling from one city to the other, while for 10kms the fare would be Rs10.

The bus service was first launched on the route during Shehbaz Sharif’s last tenure as Punjab chief minister, but it was later closed. However, it was restored on the orders of Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz. The service would be available from morning to evening in both cities, he added.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2022