Inter-sector bus service for Islamabad: Here’s what you need to know

Good news for the citizens of Islamabad as the government has announced Inter-sector bus service for the federal capital for first time. The buses will be electric and the order has already been placed to China. They will be operated on the routes of Orange line, Green line, and Blue line.

Joint venture of CDA and TIP

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is all set to launch 130 electric buses on the Capital’s roads. They are all set to procure these buses from China with the collaboration of Transport Industry of Pakistan (TIP). TIP is a department of the Ministry of Defence and TIP alongside CDA have set out of this Joint venture to make the Federal capital accessible to its citizens with the use of these electric buses.

Initially 30 buses have been ordered to China which will arrive by the end of December. Starting 2024, the electric buses will be launched in all 13 routes of the federal capital. The will use the routes of Orange Line and Blue line and will provide Inter-sector travel to the citizens.

Buses to start operations from January 2024

After the first phase of 30 buses start their operations in the capital, two more fleets of buses will be procured in February and April respectively. These two fleets will consist of 60 and 70 buses. This contract between the TIP and CDA is for a period of 8 years in which TIP will make investment for buses while CDA will pay 307 Rs per kilometre from the buses to the government of Pakistan. 

The routes of Orange line, Blue line, and Green line will be used as 30 buses will commence operations on Orange line while 20 buses will operate on the Blue line while another 20 buses will operate on the route of Green line. Moreover, a Rs 765 million bus depot is under construction in H-8 which is 80% complete already. The first phase of the buses are to start operations by January 2024.