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       An electric bus is being loaded on to a vessel for onward transportation to Pakistan. The other picture shows labourers digging a parking lot in Convention Centre where the charging facility for EVM buses would be installed.

       ISLAMABAD: The first batch of 30 of the total 150 electric buses to be operated in Islamabad is set to be dispatched from China which will arrive in Karachi after three weeks.

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       Sources said after customs clearance, the buses will reach in the capital in May. A source in China said the buses had been loaded into a vessel which was about to leave on Sunday but due to a storm its departure was delayed for a day.

       After arrival of the buses, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) through its contractor National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC), on a temporary basis, will start operation of the buses from Convention Centre as it has the charging facility for the buses. In the meanwhile, a proper depot will be set up at Zero Point.

       Meanwhile, sources said the second batch of 70 buses was likely to be dispatched after two weeks and the final batch of 50 buses was due to be sent from China on May 5. All the 150 buses will be operated on 13 new routes. The sources said the first 30 buses will be operated on two routes to be decided in a few days by CDA Chairman Anwarul Haq.

       A total of 150 buses to operate on 13 new routes in Islamabad, says official

       Mr Haq has been pushing the contractor and CDA’s team for ensuring that the buses arrived in Islamabad on time.

       The sources said it was expected that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will inaugurate the bus service. The buses had been procured by NRTC.

       As per the agreement between CDA and NRTC, the CDA will pay the NRTC about Rs306 to Rs331 per kilometre to operate the buses.

       The 13 routes include 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.

       Earlier, the CDA had intended to procure the buses from its own funding; however, in February last year the civic agency decided to hire the services of a contractor and NRTC won the contract.

       During its previous tenure, Shehbaz Sharif had directed the CDA to launch new bus services on 13 routes. During his previous tenure, he had constantly pushed the CDA to start the services; therefore, officials said the prime minister will be requested for inauguration of the bus service next month.

       Mr Sharif had also inaugurated three metro bus services: Orange Line, Green Line and Blue Line. The buses plying on the three routes belonged to the CDA and are providing great relief to thousands of passengers daily.

       CDA officials said when the buses will be launched on the 13 new routes, there will be an adequate travelling facility available for the residents of Islamabad as almost all areas and sectors of the city will be connected with each other.

       It may be noted that Islamabad had no public transport facility until the launch of the metro bus service. In the past, there were GTS buses but they stopped operation in the early 90s.

       Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2024