RAWALPINDI: A major expansion of public transport is set to improve regional connectivity as authorities plan to launch electric bus services from Gujar Khan to T Chowk next month, directly linking the tehsil with Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The move is part of a broader push to promote affordable and environment friendly urban mobility.
Regional Transport Authority Secretary Asad Shirazi said that fifteen electric buses will operate on the newly approved route from Gujar Khan Adda to T Chowk. The service will pass through Mandra and follow the GT Road corridor, providing a direct and uninterrupted link between Gujar Khan and the twin cities. Buses will operate in both directions to facilitate daily commuters.
According to transport officials, the route has already been formally approved by the RTA. The straight alignment along the GT Road is expected to reduce travel time, ease congestion and offer a reliable alternative to private transport for office workers, students and traders travelling between Gujar Khan and Islamabad.
Mr Shirazi said the electric bus fleet in Rawalpindi city will also be expanded significantly in the coming months. The number of buses will increase from forty five to eighty as new routes become operational after completion of ongoing road remodelling works, particularly at Kutchery Chowk. Currently electric buses are running on four routes.
He added that daily ridership on existing electric bus routes has crossed twenty six thousand passengers and continues to grow steadily. A dedicated electric bus depot on Peshawar Road is nearing completion, which will further support fleet expansion and operational efficiency.
Meanwhile in Jhelum, fifteen electric buses have already been inaugurated as part of the first phase of the project. Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan said the buses will operate on three routes initially, with more vehicles to be added next month. He said improving public transport remained a top priority, while senior officials reiterated the government commitment to better services in transport, health, education and communication sectors.
