RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government will start the work on a Rs7 billion project to introduce an e-transport system in the garrison city by the end of this month, with 102 e-buses expected to ply on 10 new routes before the end of 2025.

These routes, spanning 86 kilometres, will connect the city areas with the airport, the railway station, metro bus stations, the general bus stand, Islamabad, and other parts of the town.

“The project will be started by the end of this month, and in the first phase, a bus depot will be constructed for the 102 electric buses at Siham on Peshawar Road. The provincial government has directed to start the construction work so the buses will be on roads as soon as the bus depot is completed,” he said.

He said that the basic aim of the provincial government was to end pollution in the garrison city and cantonment areas, adding that the transport system would be linked with the metro bus service in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to facilitate citizens.

“We have decided to construct the depot on 28 kanal of land on Peshawar Road,” he said, adding that the depot would be located near Pirwadhai Morr on Peshawar Road.

It will have all modern facilities, like an administration block, drivers’ rest area, washing area, maintenance area, electric charging stations, cafeteria, and a mosque, he added.

Bus depot to be constructed followed by bus stops along 10 routes; buses to arrive before November

Besides the bus depot, DC Cheema said that the Punjab government also asked the local administration to construct bus stops on all 10 new routes.

He said that the work on bus stations would also be started as soon as possible.

He said the Punjab government assigned Nespak to make the feasibility study and approved the project last month, adding that construction work of the bus stations would be started in the garrison city in a month or two.

“After completion of the construction work, the provincial government will send the buses. Though the provincial government fixed the deadline of completion of work by November 2025, we are trying to complete the work before the stipulated timeframe so people will get the facility,” he said.

He said that there was a problem with parking the buses in a large number, so the government decided to construct the bus depot on which it will start the work by the end of this month.

Deputy Commissioner Cheema was of the view that after getting a better transport system with reasonable fares, people would stop using other modes of public transport, which would reduce air pollution in Rawalpindi.

He said that women and the elderly would be provided with a special area at the bus stops, while special persons would also be able to use these buses.

On the other hand, Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Secretary Rashid Ali said that the RTA had already allocated 10 new routes for this project.

Route 1 is 8.2 kilometres from the Rawalpindi Railway Station to the Lahore High Court. Route 2 is 11.3 kilometres from Koral Chowk to Fawara Chowk. Route 3 is 8.8km from Umar Baig Chowk to Mandi Mor. Route 4 is 8.3km from Munawar Colony to Saddar.

Route 5 is 13.1km from Marrir Chowk to Motorway Morr. Route 6 is 12.3km from Faizabad to Tramri Chowk. Route 7 is 5.8km from IJP Metro Station to Kuri Road. Route 8 is 7.5km from Saddar to Lalarukh Colony. Route 9 is 6.5km from Umair Baig Road to Qadeemi Imambargah Muhallah, and Route 10 is 7km from Saddar to Qabaristan.

He said that the new routes had been formed after a survey of the area regarding the passengers and pollution.

He said it was the effort of the deputy commissioner to involve different departments of the district to complete the paperwork for the project.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2024