300 buses to ply in twin cities

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Khalid Iqbal

Rawalpindi

A summary regarding launch of 300 new buses on different routes of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad has been sent to Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif for approval by the District Regional Transport Authority (DRTA) on Tuesday.

The new buses, to be run by the Pakistan Transport Welfare Association and Owners Association on 11 routes of the twin cities, are likely to be on the road within a week.

The fare of the buses would be Rs10 stop-to-stop and Rs20 from one end to the other. Different transport companies have submitted proposals to the DRTA for approval and assured if the government approved their demands buses would come on the road the next day, Pakistan Transport Welfare Association and Owners Association President Haji Muhammad Akhtar told ‘The News’.

He said that in a high-level meeting they offered a total of 300 buses on 11 routes out of which 10 buses would be exclusively for females. He said that 288 buses would run regularly while 12 buses would be on reserve.

Haji Muhammad Akhtar said that if the government accepts the proposals people would see 300 new buses on the road tomorrow. The government should provide proper terminals for buses, he said. Transporters are ready to give concession to students but they need government’s help in this matter. He said the Punjab government should impose ‘Iqra’ tax, which would be nominal amount of Rs25 or Rs30 per month for every student. They could utilise the fund for providing better transport to students, he said. They only need the government’s cooperation and subsidy to resolve the problem of transport in the twin cities, he said.

According to details, 53 buses would run on route no. B-1 from Flashman’s Park to Pakistan Secretariat, Islamabad, via Mareer Chowk, Liaquat Bagh, Committee Chowk, Waris Khan, Naz Cinema, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Sadiqabad, Rehmanabad, Sixth Road, Public Park, Shamsabad, Faizabad, Zero Point, Fire Brigade, CDA, Aabpara, Melody, GPO, Polyclinic, China Market and Super Market.

Forty buses would run on route no. B-2 from Rawalpindi Railway Station to Pakistan Secretariat via Railway Road, Kamran Chowk, Mareer Chowk, Murree Road, Liaquat Bagh, Committee Chowk, Waris Khan, Naz Cinema, Jewellery Market, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Sadiqabad, Rehmanabad, Sixth Road, Public Park, Shamsabad, Faizabad, Zero Point, Fire Brigade, CDA, Aabpara, Melody, Lal Quarters, Fazal-e-Haq Road, China Chowk and Super Market.

As many as 23 buses would run on route no. B-3 from Dhok Syedan Chowk to Markaz G-9, via Bakra Mandi Chowk, Chungi No. 22, RA Bazaar, GPO, Kamran Chowk, Mareer Chowk, Liaquat Bagh, Tipu Road, Rawal Road, Chandni Chowk, National Market, Kali Tanki, Haideri Chowk, College Chowk, Gulzar Hotel, Saidpur Road, Pindora, I-9 Police Station, 7-Up Chowk, Education Stop, Peshawar Morr and Masjid Stop.

Twenty-four buses would run on route no. B-4 from Biscuit Factory Dhamial Chowk to Nurpur Shahan via Bakra Mandi Chowk, Chungi No. 22, T&T Chowk, GPO, Kashmir Road, Kamran Chowk, Mareer Chowk, Liaquat Bagh, Committee Chowk, Waris Khan, Naz Cinema, Jewellery Market, Benazir Bhutto Road, Sadiqabad, Rehmanabad, Sixth Road, Public Park, Shamsabad, Faizabad, Zero Point, Fire Brigade, CDA, Aabpara, Foreign Office, PM Secretariat, Diplomatic Enclave and President House Colony.

Twenty-four buses would run on route no. B-5 from Adiala Jail to Faisal Masjid via Adiala Road, Gulshanabad, Rehman Markaz, Jarahi, Askari-7, 502 Workshop, Lalkurti, Chungi No. 22, RA Bazaar, T&T Chowk, Mall Road, Butt Malka Chowk, Mareer Chowk, Liaquat Bagh, Committee Chowk, Waris Khan, Naz Cinema, Jewellery Market, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Sadiqabad, Rehmanabad, Sixth Road, Public Park, Shamsabad, Faizabad, Zero Point, T&T Chowk, PIMS, Markaz F-8, Shaheen Chowk, Naval Complex, Faisal Masjid and return to RA Bazaar, Ziarat Chowk, CMH.

Thirty-four buses would run on route no. B-6 from Tarnol to Hamrahi Adda via Golra Morr, Kohinoor Mills, Pirwadhai Morr, Chur Chowk, Charing Cross, Radio Pakistan, Race Course, MH, Mall Road, T&T Chowk, Butt Malka Chowk, Mareer Chowk, Rashid Minhas Road, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Katchery Chowk, Ayub Park, Al-Shifa, Fauji Foundation Hospital and Soan Adda.

Twenty-three buses would run on route no B-7 from Humak Model Town to Pakistan Secretariat via Kahuta Morr, Gohra Syedan, Soan Camp, Fauji Foundation, Al-Shifa, Morgah Morr, Kutchery Chowk, Jhanda Chichi, 501 Workshop, Rahimabad, Airport, Dhoke Hafiz, Gulzar-e-Quaid, Airport Chowk, Karal Chowk, Fazaia Chowk, Khanna Pull, Kurri Road, Dhoke Kala Khan, Faizabad, Zero Point, Fire Brigade, CDA, Aabpara, Melody, GPO, Polyclinic, China Market and Super Market.

Nineteen buses would run on route no. B-8 from Railway Station to Taxila via Railway Road, Transit Camp, Bakery Chowk, Chur Chowk, Pirwadhai Morr, Kohinoor Mills, Golra Morr, EME College, Jhangi Syedan, Motorway Stop, Tarnol and Sangjani Bypass.

Fourteen buses would run on route no. B-9 from General Bus Stand (Pirwadhai) to Faisal Masjid via IJ Principal Road, Faizabad, Zero Point, Fire Brigade, CDA, Aabpara, Melody, GPO, Polyclinic, China Market and Super Market.

Nineteen buses would run on route no. B-10 from Rawat to TMA Raja Bazaar Building via Kahuta Morr, Gora Syedan, Soan Camp, High Court, Fauji Foundation, Al-Shifa, Morgah Morr, Kutchery Chowk, Mareer Hassan, Liaquat Bagh and Gordon College.

Fifteen buses would run on route no. B-11 from Rawalpindi Railway Station to Golra Sharif, via MH, Radio Station, Charing Cross, Church Chowk, Pirwadhai Morr, Kohinoor Mills, Golra Morr, Mera Jaffar and Golra Railway Station.

District Regional Transport Authority (DRTA) Secretary Syed Asad Raza Kazmi told ‘The News’ that public would see a modern transport service in the twin cities in a week. He said that he has received proposals of transporters regarding problems related to students, terminals and subsidy. He said Punjab Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif had directed the department to provide a modern transport system to the residents of the twin cities to end the monopoly of wagon owners. He said that he has approved the demands of transporters and sent a summary to the chief minister for approval. He also said that transporters promised to fix fare of Rs10 stop-to-stop and Rs20 from one end to the other.

He said that transporters have demanded imposition of ‘Iqra’ surcharge to facilitate students. Secondly, they demanded proper terminals for buses, he said. He said that the chief minister ordered the department to accept the demands of transporters for providing better transport facility to the people. People would see buses on roads in a few days, he assured.