ISLAMABAD: Two weeks after the inauguration, 5,800 and 6,000 passengers were commuting on eight buses each plying on the Blue and Green lines, respectively, on a daily basis.

Due to the high passenger load on both the lines, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to acquire 20 more buses within a week.

The decision was taken during a visit of CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed to various routes and stops of the metro bus services.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the Green and Blue line metro bus services on July 7.

Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister had said the metro bus service would be a gift for the residents of the twin cities and would serve the common man, students and workers.

He had also directed expansion of both the bus services in the coming years.

The Green Line starts from Bhara Kahu and culminates at Pims stop. The passengers disembark outside the hospital to catch the Red Line (Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro) for travelling to other parts of the city.

The Blue Line operates from Koral to Pims. Initially, these two metros are being run as non-stop services until the bus stations on the routes are constructed.

According to the CDA, work on the construction of the bus stations for both lines is underway and will be completed by Aug 14. Both the Green and Blue lines are being run in mix traffic on existing roads and in future the CDA will construct designated corridors for them.

During the visit, Mr Ahmed was informed that currently eight buses with 5,800 passengers were plying daily on the Blue Line and 6,000 passengers on the Green Line.

Keeping in view the high passenger load, it was decided that 20 additional buses would be acquired within one week. According to a statement, this will facilitate residents of Bhara Kahu and Koral.

Later, the CDA chairman and officers boarded an Orange Line bus from N5 station to the G-13 station. During the visit, the chairman appreciated the work carried out by the horticulture department along the metro track. Special directions were issued to the concerned formations to ensure facilitation to differently-able passengers at the bus stops.

Prime Minister Sharif in April this year inaugurated the Orange Line from Peshawar Mor to the Islamabad International Airport.

According to a survey conducted by the CDA in May, around 11,464 passengers traveled daily on the Orange Line. Moreover, Faiz Ahmed Faiz junction in H-9, which was included later to facilitate students, has been observed as the busiest one.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2022