30 electric buses for Islamabad is a timely and long awaited decision on the part of CDA authorities to provides them quality travelling facilities providing them a sigh of relief from this heated summer spell.CDA electric bus pattern must be followed for Rawalpindi to save the citizens from the non-co-operative attitude of transporters who are plying their vehicles on twin city routes without fare lists making them wait for hours to reach their destination. Non completion of routes on the part of transporters and misbehaving with travelers has become a common practice which often ends in scuffles and exchange of harsh words.
Electric bus routes will be operated from G-11 NUST station to PIMS covering G-10, G-9 and G-8 and the second from PIMS, G-7, G-6, G-6, National Library, Bari Imam and Quaid-i-Azam University. 10 electric buses will arrive in Islamabad on Tuesday and 20 more buses are expected on Wednesday. The same type of pattern must be adopted for Rawalpindi also to provide travelling facility and save them from exploitation of transporters, residents proposed Citizens Voice.
The service to be started in a few days will be available from 6am to 10pm daily. Besides, 70 more buses will reach Karachi within next 48 hours after customs clearance will be transported to Islamabad. The last fleet of 60 buses will reach Islamabad later. A comprehensive strategy would be devised to give subsidy to deserving segments of society, including persons with disabilities and students.
Orange Line, Green Line and Blue Line services are already operating on the three routes belong to the CDA and they are providing great relief to thousands of passengers daily through Orange, Green and Blue Lines.
It is planned and proposed that these new bus services will provide services on13 routes. 13 new rural and urban areas and almost all sectors of Islamabad will be interconnected with each other. These buses will be procured from an international firm that manufactures buses in China.
Bus and van routes plying between Rawalpindi and Islamabad from Rawat to Mandi More, Bahria Town to Secretariat, Rawat to Mandi More and Rawat to Raja Bazar are without fare lists where overcharging and route incompletion has become a common practice. Besides the transporters remain standing for unlimited time waiting for passengers, Ahsan-ul- Haq Tanoli complained.
Rules and regulations along with Standard operating procedures have been chalked out by transport authorities and fares lists have also been compiled. Strong directives are also issued from time to time to paste fare list and charge accordingly, but these directives are not followed by transporters.
Provision of electric bus facility to Rawalpindi will not only provide quality services but also address the growing complaints of women, children and citizens saving them from scorching heat of summer, Transport-related legislations must be implemented according to rules and regulations set by transport authorities. Ahsan maintained.
Same type of pattern must be adopted for Rawalpindi also to provide travelling facility because bus, van, taxi and rickshaws are creating several problems relating to the fares as everyone has its own fares due to the non-provision of fare rate lists by vans and bus transporters plying between routes of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Nauman Ali Satti maintained.
Electrically charged air-conditioned buses will provide safe and luxury service besides controlling air pollution created by petrol and diesel vans and bus services. Concerned authorities should take a serious notice to address the problems of travelers who are leading a miserable life after falling victim to transporters, Nauman concluded.
