RAWALPINDI: The Punjab caretaker government has planned to run at least 78 electric feeder buses on six new routes next month to connect the residents of Rawalpindi to the metro bus service between Islamabad and the garrison city.

Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha told Dawn that the provincial government wanted to ply the feeder buses to connect people from different areas with metro stations from Saddar to Faizabad.

“In the first phase of the feeder routes project, 78 buses will ply on six routes,” he said, adding that the new routes had been identified and the Regional Transport Authority had allocated the buses on these routes to link them with the metro bus stations. It may be mentioned here that more than 110,000 people travelled between Rawalpindi and Islamabad every day.

The route between Rawat Mandi Morr and Saddar is 9km long and 12 buses will ply on this path. From Islamabad Expressway (Koral Chowk) to Marrir Chowk, 16 buses will provide services. Dhok Kashmirian to Liaquat Bagh via Tipu Road will have 12 buses running while Dhoke Kashmirian to Chandani Chowk will have 12 buses plying on the seven-kilometre-long route. From Pirwadahi Morr to Marrir Chowk via GT Road, 11 buses will ply on the route. From Faizabad to IJP Road to Khanna Pul, 15 buses will provide services to the residents.

Projects aimed at providing citizens easy access to metro stations

The feeder buses would not charge fares from the metro bus cardholders for shorter distances. However, the fare for these buses would be Rs20. According to the commissioner, the idea behind this project was to provide hassle-free public transport to people. He added the provincial administration would launch more routes for feeder buses in the future.

Sharing details about this initiative, he said the administration was working to connect the Islamabad airport with city areas and a new bus service in this respect would be launched soon.

Vegetable market in Rawat

Meanwhile, Mr Chatha also inaugurated a new route from Soan Bridge to Fruit and Vegetable Market in Rawat. Speaking on this occasion, the commissioner said that more than 40 years had passed but a big city like Rawalpindi still did not have its market for fresh produce.

Keeping this “important need of the citizens in mind”, a vegetable and fruit market was established near Rawat, spreading over an area of 6.5 acres, he said, adding: “It is being improved with each passing day and will also be expanded in the future.”

According to the commissioner, the Chak Beli road U-turn in front of the market would be widened to ease the flow of traffic. “The business of buying and selling fruits and vegetables in the market is being done successfully, but the citizens were facing some problems in accessing the market, for which a new route has been started,” he added.

In the first phase, route permits have been issued to 20 vehicles. Apart from this, along with the metro track, feeder buses will also start running soon.

Mr Chatha claimed the prices of vegetables and fruits in Rawat’s vegetable and fruit market were “15-20 per cent lower than the market rates”. He added instructions had also been given to the administration to provide a cold storage facility in the market.

“Four security guards have been deployed at the market to ensure the safety of the customers. Similarly, 8-10 cleaners have been deployed in the market. Sheds have been prepared in the vegetable market, which will remain rent-free for the first four months, after which a suitable rent will be fixed,” he said.

He further said that the establishment of the market was possible with the cooperation of the transporters. Mr Chatha said that a five-member committee had also been formed under the chairmanship of the Saddar assistant commissioner to improve the services and address the complaints of the citizens.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2023