ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to expand its electric bus fleet after ridership on the service crossed the 100,000 mark, prompting the civic agency to formally request 60 additional buses from the National Radio and Telecommunications Corporation (NRTC).
Officials said the surge in passengers over the past weeks has pushed the CDA to enhance service frequency on both inner-city and suburban routes. Currently, buses on far-flung routes operate every 30 to 45 minutes. Under the revised plan, the interval will be reduced to 15 minutes to accommodate the growing number of commuters.
Similarly, the frequency on inner-city routes—where a bus presently arrives every 15 minutes—will be improved to a 10-minute headway.
The CDA had originally planned to run electric buses on 13 designated routes. However, due to rising demand, the service has now expanded to 18 routes across the capital. Launched in December last year, the electric bus network has quickly become a popular mode of transport for office-goers, students and daily commuters.
Officials said the additional 60 buses would be procured by the NRTC after securing approval from the relevant ministry. Under the existing arrangement, the CDA pays NRTC on a per-kilometre basis for operating the fleet.
With the expansion plan underway, the CDA expects further growth in ridership as the service becomes more frequent and accessible across Islamabad.
