30 more electric buses reach Islamabad

A fleet of 30 electric buses reached Islamabad while 10 more buses will arrive in the city on Tuesday, reported 24NewsD TV channel.

Out of total 160 electric buses, 30 have arrived in the city from Karachi while 20 more will reach in the next 24 hours. In the first phase, 30 electric buses will operate on two routes. The first route will be from G-11 Nust station to Pims covering G-10, G-9 and G-8 while the second route will start from Pims, G-7, G-6, G-6, National Library, Bari Imam and reach Quaid-i-Azam University.

The CDA has set up a temporary depot with six electric chargers at the Convention Centre to operate the 30 buses. The CDA spokesman said soon strategy would be devised to give subsidy to deserving segments of society, including disabled and students.

The service can be used from 6am to 10pm. The CDA has acquired 160 buses by a contractor, National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC), which will operate the buses. The CDA will pay it Rs306 to Rs331 per kilometre.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during his previous tenure, had directed the CDA to launch new bus services on 13 routes. He had constantly pushed the CDA to start the service and as a result the civic agency engaged the NRTC to procure the buses from an international firm that manufactures buses in China.