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• by Admin
• 22-Jul-2022 || 02:24 PM

METRO ROUTES OF RAWALPINDI AND ISLAMABAD

The metro bus project was launched in early 2010s. The purpose of this project was to connect, the twin cities, Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and to ease the traffic congestion, in both the cities. The government of Pakistan is also taking these initiatives, to establish a modern transportation system in the country. The metro bus project, has made commuting very easy, and hassle free, between Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The best thing about this project is that it would continue to expand. Let’s take a deep look into the details of this project.  

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE PROJECT:

            ·    Phase 1 and Phase 2 broadly refer to the two routes that make up the Islamabad Metro Bus system.

            ·    The first phase covers Pak Secretariat in Islamabad to Saddar in Rawalpindi, the Metro Bus network's Phase 1 spans 23 kilometers.

            ·    From Peshawar Morr Interchange to New Islamabad International Airport, the second phase of the Islamabad Metro route travels a distance of approximately 25.6 kilometers.

            ·    E-ticketing is employed by the system.

            ·    With 24 bus stations, the Islamabad-Rawalpindi Metro Bus is estimated to have cost PKR 44.8 billion.

            ·    The transporters would be charged a set one-way fare of PKR 30. Despite changes in the price of gasoline, it has not changed.

            ·    There are 68 buses in all, 60 of which are now in use, and 8 are preserved as spares.

            ·    The buses are owned by Platform Truism, a private Turkish company.

            ·    Operation, procurement, and maintenance are the three main expenses for Islamabad's metro buses.

            ·    The Turkish firm Platform Truism Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMA) also gives the bus drivers with schedules and routes that they must adhere to.

            ·    The 23 km long Metro Bus Corridor has 8.6 km of elevated, 10 km of grade, and 4 km of trench.

            ·    According to estimates, Metro Islamabad carries 135,000 people each day.

METRO BUS STATION CONSTRUCTION:

In order to establish the Metro Bus project in the early 2010s, the provincial and federal governments collaborated based on research and several studies by the Punjab government and the Capital Development Authority. The twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi were to be connected in order to reduce traffic on the corridor.

The project was agreed on a 50:50 sharing basis by the Federal and Punjab governments at a meeting co-chaired on January 19, 2014 by Pakistan's Prime Minister and Punjab's Chief Minister. The Prime Minister delegated authority to the Provincial government under the Rawalpindi Development Authority because the Punjab government had finished a Metro Bus project in Lahore (RDA). Once the project is finished, it was determined that Punjab Metro Bus Authority (PMA) will handle operation and maintenance.

The Islamabad Metro Bus route's development began in February 2014 and was finished in June 2015. The project, which had a budget of about PKR 44.31 billion, fell under the purview of the Rawalpindi Development Authority. The task of building the Metro Bus system was assigned to Habib Construction Services, one of the biggest construction firms in Pakistan.

Ø  Let's find out more about the stations along the Metro bus route in the twin cities that travels to Islamabad.

The current metro bus stations are as following:

·         Saddar

·         Murree Chowk

·         Liaquat Bagh

·         Committee Chowk

·         Waris Khan

·         Chandni Chowk

·         Rehmanabad

·         6th Road

·         Khatam-e-Nabuwat

·         Faizabad

·         I.J.P

·         Potohar

·         Khayaban-e-Johar

·         Faiz Ahmed Faiz

·         Kashmir Highway

·         Chaman

·         Ibn-e-Sina

·         Katchery

·         PIMS

·         Stock Exchange

·         7th Avenue

·         Shaheed-e-Millat

·         Parade Ground

·         Pak Secretariat

METRO BUS FARES, TIMINGS, AND FEATURES:

The Metro Bus Islamabad runs from six fifteen in the morning to ten o'clock at night. The Metro Bus system makes use of an e-ticketing system and an Intelligent Transportation System wand. The automated system is controlled by the Punjab IT Board, while it is overseen by the Punjab Metro Bus Authority (PMBA). Given that both are a part of the same transit system, the Metro bus schedule for Rawalpindi is likewise the same.

Aside from this, there are other amenities like ticketing booths, escalators, restrooms, platform screens, turnstiles for automatic fare collection, and many more that make it easier and safer for people to travel. Additionally, a central ITS control center is present, which monitors the BRT system's overall performance. The latest amenities, such air-conditioned buses and free Wi-Fi, make commuters in Islamabad who utilize the Metro Bus happy.

If you purchase a one-way ticket, you are able to use the Metro Bus in Islamabad for one hour and fifteen minutes. You will need to pay more if you opt to remain longer. Due to the integrated fare structure, utilizing a Metro Bus Card just requires a single payment for the entire trip, which often entails three rides. The phone number for Metro Bus Islamabad is (051) 111-222-627.

HOW TO BUY A METRO TOKEN:

Passengers in Islamabad must have a Fare Media, which can be either a token or a Metro Bus Card, in order to use the city's public transit. This can be bought or refilled at the various metro bus stations' ticket windows or ticket vending machines (TVM). You must first choose how many tokens you want to purchase at the ticket vending machine before inserting the necessary money—PKR 30 per token. Gather the token and receipt.

HOW TO BUY METRO CARD:

Choose the Metro Bus Card option at the ticket machine. When the green light starts to blink, submit banknotes. About PKR 130 gets you a Metro Bus Card. Gather the Metro Bus Card and the receipt. Passengers may return the card and receive their deposit back, but only if the cards are in good functioning order.

NEW METRO ROUTE TO ISLAMABAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT:

Nine bus stations can be found here, including G-10 Station, NUST Station, NHA Station, M1-M2 Junction Station, Grand Trunk Road Station, G-1 Station, Badana Kalan Station, and Airport Station. There are 12 bridges, 26 culverts, and 11 underpasses in the Metro Bus project.

Four packages make up Peshawar Morr-Islamabad International Airport:

·         Package-I:  Peshawar Morr to NUST.

·         Package II: NUST to GT (Grand Trunk Road).

·         Package III: Grand Trunk Road to Interchange.

·         Package IV: underpasses and bridges have been completed.

From Golra Morr Interchange to GT Road Interchange, there will be a three-lane roadway on either side of the route, except the Islamabad Metro Bus route, to provide for unrestricted traffic movement. Additionally, it is anticipated that flyovers and underpasses would be built on existing highways to maximize comfort and give respite for those who would otherwise have to endure traffic congestion.