ISLAMABAD: The city managers have directed the relevant wing of the CDA to use all 160 electric buses in Islamabad on existing routes and to create new ones to help the public.
As per the newspaper report, Currently, about 70 of the 160 buses are working. In a recent meeting, CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa told the wing to make sure all buses are used.
It is still unclear how many buses can be used, as there is a shortage of charging stations. The CDA only has 16 charging stations, which officials say are not enough. A new depot is being built at Zero Point, where more charging stations will be set up.
The chairman advised the wing to choose high-demand routes to make the best use of the buses.
The CDA has started the bus service on eight routes, but many people do not know about it because there is no written information on the buses or their routes.
“There is a need to provide all kinds of information about the service. Booklets should be available at airports, railway stations, bus stops, embassies, and shopping malls,” said a CDA official.
The official also suggested introducing a mobile app for ticket bookings and putting up information boards at bus stops. These boards would show bus arrival times, with a bus arriving every 10 minutes. “Right now, even on busy Park Road, buses come after 30 minutes,” the official said.
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The CDA chairman confirmed that instructions were given to provide booklets at important places, following international practices. He also said a mobile app is being developed and that all buses will soon be running for the public.
An official added that buses are operating on seven routes with 10 buses on each route. More buses will be added to Park Road in the coming days.
A CDA press release stated that a meeting on electric feeder bus operations was held, chaired by the CDA chairman, with officials from the National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC), the Islamabad Transport Authority, and other authorities.
During the meeting, the chairman directed the immediate use of all buses in the feeder project. He also stressed the importance of selecting high-demand routes, monitoring daily ridership and costs, and reducing reliance on subsidies. The CDA plans to build modern bus terminals with digital advertising boards to earn extra income.
