RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government is set to launch electric buses at Marqa-i-Haq Square, formerly known as Kutchery Chowk, as construction work on bus stop sheds is expected to be completed within a week.

“Punjab government will launch Phase-II of electric buses to connect District Courts with other parts of the garrison city, and in this regard, the bus stops will be constructed at six sites,” said a senior official of the district administration while talking to Dawn.

He said that the bus bays are being constructed in front of Fatima Jinnah Women University, the District Courts main gate, the Marqa-i-Haq Monument, the Police Monument on Old Airport Road, the State Bank of Pakistan on The Mall, and Gymkhana on Rashid Minhas Road.

He said that some finishing work continued, especially on the underpass at Annexe Chowk in front of Jinnah Park, the drainage system, the lighting system, footpaths from Kutchery main gate to the flyover, the service road from Fatima Jinnah Women University to Sarwar Park, and from Iftikhar Janjua Road to the State Bank of Pakistan.

He added that although the Parks and Horticulture Agency had completed the green belts, maintenance work continued.

“More than 35 electric buses will arrive in the garrison city, and after the completion of work on bus stops and the arrival of the buses, the Regional Transport Authority will open the route, and it will take a month,” he said.

On the other hand, a senior official of the Punjab Mass Transit Authority said that at present 45 buses were operating on seven routes in the garrison city, and their number would be increased to 80 within a month.

He said that before the start of construction work at the chowk, more than 10 routes had been finalised for e-buses, but the administration opened only seven routes due to the construction work at Kutchery Chowk.

He said that after the launch of buses at Kutchery Chowk, people would be able to travel from Rawat T-Chowk to District Courts and from Koral Chowk to Soan Bridge, the Motorway, Rawalpindi Railway Station and Saddar.

He said that people coming from the surrounding areas of the garrison city would easily reach Raja Bazaar and the downtown area without any hurdles.

He added that the road from Koral Chowk and Rawat T-Chowk to the Motorway would be signal-free, and electric buses would provide a better and more secure travelling facility to residents.

When contacted, Regional Transport Authority Secretary Asad Shirazi said that the Fawara Chowk to Koral Chowk route was currently operating on diversion from Tipu Road, while the actual route would pass through Rashid Minhas Road, Kutchery, Jinnah Park Road, Ammar Chowk and Old Airport Road, and would be opened after the arrival of more buses.

He said that a new route from Saddar to Hamrahi Bus Stop would start soon, enabling people to travel to the Soan River area and Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench on electric buses.

When contacted, Sub-Divisional Officer of the Punjab Highway Department Masab Ali said that major work at Marqa-i-Haq Square had been completed, while finishing work was under way and would be completed within a week or two.

He said that the construction of the bus stops would also be completed soon. He added that the Annexe Chowk underpass would be opened to traffic within a week.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2026