The Capital Development Authority (CDA) plans to add 13 additional bus routes to Islamabad’s public transportation network in two stages.
The first phase, according to CDA Chairman Capt. (Retd.) Usman Younis, would see the provision of transportation for six congested routes, with PIMS acting as the centre point.
Route 1 will connect Allama Iqbal Open University, Shifa International Hospital, and Potohar Station via I-8 Markaz. Route 2 will connect PIMS to the Secretariat through Jinnah Super and Super Market.
G7, G6, Melody Market, Abpara, and NADRA will be linked to PIMS through Route 3. Route 4 will connect F-11 to F-8 on the Red Line Metro. Route 5 will link sectors G-8, G-9, G-10, and G-11 from PIMS. Park Road would link Abpara to Taramri Chowk through Route 6.
The government will purchase buses for seven more routes in the second phase. Route 7 will go from the Police Foundation to the Faiz Ahmed Faiz Red Line Metro Station, while Route 8 would connect sector D-12 to the Orange Line Metro station at G-10.
Route 9 would run between F-11 and F-8, while Route 10 will connect rural communities from Nilore to Khanna Bridge.
Route 11 will be extended up to Chungi No. 26 to serve people of the B-17 region. The last two ways are shrouded in mystery.
Younis further said that after the IJP road is completed, the CDA would build a route from Faizabad to Pir Wadhai. He also said that PIMS would function as the new routes’ hub, connecting the service to the Red and Orange Line Metro lines.
Meanwhile, the CDA is assessing the viability of all routes and producing procurement papers for different companies.
