RAWALPINDI: The project to operate 78 electric buses on six routes to improve the transport system in the garrison city has been delayed as the Punjab government has decided to execute the project in the next fiscal year.

A senior official of the district administration told Dawn that the six routes that had already been allocated for the buses would help people get better transport service. He said that these buses will serve as feeder buses for the Metro Bus Service between Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

He also said that the procurement of the buses was to start in January 2024, but due to general elections it was delayed.

The provincial government will procure the buses for three major cities, including Rawalpindi, Lahore and Multan.

“In the first phase of the feeder routes project, 78 buses will be operated on six routes,” the senior official said, adding that the new routes had been identified and the Regional Transport Authority had allocated the buses on these routes to link them with the metro bus stations.

The official said procurement would be completed by the next fiscal year and at the same time the rehabilitation work on the metro elevated road would also be completed to the tune of Rs740 million soon by the RDA and Punjab Mass Transit Authority.

He also said one of the routes from Saddar to Rawat Mandi Mor has been extended to Gujar Khan. Other routes are Dhoke Kashmirian to Liaquat Bagh via Tipu Road, Dhoke Kashmirian to Chandani Chowk, Pirwadahi Morr to Marrir Chowk via GT Road, and Faizabad to IJP Road to Khanna Pul.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema said that the procurement process had been initiated by the provincial government and the project will likely start in the next two months.

He said that they had completed the arrangements for the project and in this regard 30 kanals on Peshawar Road had been allocated for a depot for electric buses.

“We have made plans to construct an electric recharge station, a workshop and a service station in the area. The PC-I has been completed and sent to the Punjab government for approval,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2024