RAWALPINDI: Finally, the Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas get a new transport service as Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is all set to launch electronic buses on four of the 10 planned routes on Wednesday (today).

The district administration and local police have made arrangements for the visit of the chief minister. Parks and Horticulture Authority had been given the task to make main roads presentable and decorated with plants and flowers, while Rawalpindi Waste Management Company was told to clean roads on the route of the chief minister.

“In the first phase, 45 e-buses will be operated on four routes and the number of buses will be expanded in coming days. As Kutchery Chowk remodeling project is in progress, it is not included among the routes,” said Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Secretary Asad Shirazi while talking to Dawn.

Total seven buses will be operated from Saddar to Qabristan Chowk at Misrial Road via Qasim Market, Shalley Valley (total 7 kilometres), eight buses on the second route from Fawara Chowk to Koral Chowk via Liaquat Bagh and Sir Syed Road and the Old Airport Road (11.3 kilometres) and seven buses on the third route will be from Saddar Metro Bus Station to Munawar Colony via Tulsa Road. Moreover, 14 buses will be operated on the fourth route from Marrir Metro Bus Station to the Motorway Chowk via The Mall and Peshawar Road (13.1 kilometres).

About 24,000 passengers will benefit from facility on a daily basis in initial phase, says DC

Mr Shirazi said a charging station for the electric buses had been installed at Saddar GTS bus stand on Adamjee Road and work was in progress to develop a bus depot at Peshawar Road. He said the routes had been approved by the Punjab government and Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema after consultations with the locals.

He said more buses will arrive in Rawalpindi by the end of this year and will be operated on the routes from the next year.

The deputy commissioner told Dawn that arrangements had been finalised and the electric buses will be on the routes after inauguration by the chief minister.

“As many as 24,000 passengers will avail of this transport in the initial phase and it is expected that the ridership will increase with the passage of time. Before notifying, the district administration conducted a survey of the city and cantonment areas and finalised the routes as per requirements of the people,” he said.

He said training of the drivers and ticketing staff had been completed. The Punjab Transit Authority will look after the affairs of the buses, adding the service was connected with the metro buses in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The DC said that people who wanted to go to Islamabad International Airport will use the bus service from Saddar to the Motorway Chowk and then to the airport.

He said it was a gift of the Punjab government for the residents of the garrison city who will get a decent bus service at reasonable fares.

The electric buses will help reduce traffic rush on the roads besides reducing air and noise pollution, he said.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2025