The provincial government of Punjab has launched the first phase of the green electric bus service in the garrison city with a fleet of 45 buses on four routes.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz inaugurated a fleet of 45 new, air-conditioned e-buses on four main routes, marking a significant step toward cleaner urban transport in the garrison city. The new buses are equipped with free Wi-Fi and mobile charging ports.
This service, which charges a flat fare of just Rs20 but offers free travel to women, students, and seniors, is part of a larger government push toward sustainable mobility and modern infrastructure across Punjab. The project sets the stage for a dramatic reduction in city pollution and promises a more convenient, tech-equipped commute for residents.
Key Highlights
- Initial Fleet: 45 electric buses launched on four primary routes in Phase I, with plans to expand to 80 buses soon.
- Fare Structure: A flat fare of Rs20 per person.
- Free Travel: Women, students, senior citizens, and special persons travel completely free.
- Tech Amenities: Buses are equipped with free Wi-Fi, mobile charging ports, CCTV cameras, and separate compartments for women.
- Signal-free corridor: Punjab government has announced a Rs30 billion signal-free corridor for the city, set to benefit 200,000 people daily.
Rawalpindi’s Electric Bus fleet covers 4 key Route
The launch marked Rawalpindi’s official entry into modern, electric-powered public transit. The initial fleet of 45 e-buses will serve four busy routes, connecting some of the city’s most traffic-heavy areas.
Seven buses will run from Saddar to Qabristan Chowk at Misrial Road (7 kilometers), while eight vehicles will cover the route from Fawara Chowk to Koral Chowk (11.3 kilometers).
Fourteen buses will operate on the route from Marrir Metro Bus Station to Motorway Chowk (13.1 kilometers). The plan calls for expanding this fleet to 80 buses in the near future, extending the service to neighboring cities like Jhelum, Chakwal, and Attock.
The Regional Transport Authority noted the exclusion of Kutchery Chowk from the initial routes due to ongoing remodeling work, suggesting careful coordination with the city’s wider construction agenda. Charging stations to support the fleet are already active at the Old Waran Bus Terminal in Saddar and the Green Bus Terminal in Chohar Chowk.
Focus on Safety, Digital Access, Convenience
The new e-buses are outfitted with a suite of modern amenities designed for the digital commuter and traveler safety. Passengers can expect air conditioning and the convenience of free Wi-Fi and mobile charging ports, features increasingly mandatory for twenty-first-century public transport.
Safety and accessibility were also priorities in the design. A separate compartment for women, alongside continuous CCTV monitoring, aims to address passenger safety. “A separate compartment for women and CCTV monitoring will help prevent harassment,” Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz noted
Furthermore, the accessible fare model is central to the service’s impact. She said the fare for an electric bus is only Rs20, while travel is completely free for women, senior citizens, special persons and students.
Wider Infrastructure Plan
Speaking at the launch ceremony, CM Maryam Nawaz used the platform to present a broader vision for Rawalpindi’s infrastructure development. She announced plans for a massive signal-free corridor, a project designed to ease congestion dramatically.
“The work on the signal-free corridor, worth Rs30 billion, will be completed next year. Two hundred thousand people will directly benefit from it every day,” she stated. The Chief Minister also mentioned a new drainage and sewage system, backed by a Rs100 billion allocation, and plans for new healthcare facilities. She said that after the completion of Lahore Cancer Hospital, the next cancer hospital would be built in Rawalpindi and then in DG Khan.