LAHORE: The Punjab Mass Transit Authority on Wednesday introduced coverage fee for Metro Bus and Orange Line Metro Train stations.

The authority has announced the imposition of a coverage fee for media organisations seeking to cover Metro Bus and Orange Line train stations across the province.

Under the new guidelines, media organisations intending to cover these transit stations will be required to follow a two-step process. First, they must obtain permission from the authority, and subsequently, pay a designated coverage fee as part of the coverage process.

To facilitate the implementation of this initiative, the authority has categorized the stations within the Orange Line into three distinct categories, each corresponding to a specific coverage fee.

In Category A, which encompasses eight stations, the coverage fee has been set at Rs246,000 per station. Category B, comprising ten stations, will require a coverage fee of Rs185,000. Finally, Category C, encompassing eight stations, will carry a coverage fee of Rs124,000.

The coverage fee of Rs124,000 will also apply to media organisations seeking to cover the Metro Bus service, ensuring a uniform approach across different modes of public transportation.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2023