Islamabad is gearing up to introduce a cutting-edge bus service with the arrival of 30 electric buses from China next month, as revealed by officials from the Capital Development Authority (CDA). The CDA chairman, Anwarul Haq, presided over a meeting where it was disclosed that a total of 160 electric buses would be imported from China.
In the initial phase, 30 buses are set to reach Pakistan in January, with the remainder scheduled for importation in February and March. The CDA chairman emphasized the need for a timely arrival of the buses. Once the first batch arrives, the bus service is expected to be officially launched, operating on 13 routes throughout the federal capital.
To support this initiative, the CDA will commence the construction of the main bus depot at Zero Point, along the Srinagar Highway towards the H-8 side, in the coming days. The construction process is estimated to take six months, and plans are underway for the development of three additional bus depots.
The construction of these depots is guided by the 42(f) regulations of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules, allowing only government-run construction firms to participate in the bidding process for efficient and timely completion.
Responsibility for operating the buses on the designated routes has been entrusted to the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC). The NRTC will receive compensation ranging from Rs. 306 to Rs. 331 per kilometer from the CDA.
The bus routes include connections from Police Foundation/Orange Line Station to Red Line Faiz Ahmed Faiz Station in I-8, Allama Iqbal Station to Red Line Potohar Station, Pims to Secretariat, D-12 to G-10, F-11 to Red Line F-8 Station, G-11 to Pims, Aabpara to Tramri Chowk, Nilor to Khanna Pul, Pirwadhai Chowk to Faizabad, B-17 to 26 Number Chungi, and I-16 to 26 Number.
This ambitious project, initiated under the directives of former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, marks a significant step towards modernizing public transportation in Islamabad, following the successful implementation of metro bus services during his tenure.