Islamabad to get electric buses next month

ISLAMABAD: Electric buses are likely to ply on the roads of the federal capital by next month with the arrival of first batch of 30 of the total 150 buses from China.

The first batch will arrive in Karachi after three weeks and the buses will reach in the capital in May.

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 meantime, a proper depot will be set up at Zero Point.

New SHOs appointed to eight police stations in Islamabad

According to sources quoted by the Dawn newspaper, 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.

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.

The sources said it was expected that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will inaugurate the bus service.