ISLAMABAD  – The Capital Development Authority has decided to set up an independent Islamabad Transport Company to provide subsidy for its upcoming bus service, planned to be launched within three months.
“The CDA Board has decided setting up of an independent company. This separate entity will generate revenue from its own resources through developing various multi-purpose facilities on the land to be allocated for its use,” Chairman Prime Minister’s Task Force Faisal Sakhi Butt told the agency on Sunday.
Butt said the CDA had already specified around 20 acre land in Sector I-11 for bus stations but it would now be put under company’s purview that would use it for commercial activities for revenue generation. “The company would be empowered either to lease out land to other transport companies for bus stations or raise multi-storey buildings there for commercial use. The revenue would be used as subsidy for the Islamabad public transport service,” said the chairman Task Force.
Moreover, all bus stops across Islamabad would be put on the company’s disposal that would earn money from their branding. He said the CDA has now decided to abandon the idea of CNG-fitted bus service owing to its shortage rather they were now planning to launch a diesel-fuelled service. However, he said all aspects of the company were yet being fine-tuned to make it operational and successful.
The chairman said it would follow the formal establishment of the company that would be headed by a Chief Executive Officer who would be a government officer equal to Member CDA Board, a grade-20 post. He said the CDA and the Task Force were also examining various local and international transport models to follow and the Islamabad Transport. The company would be based on any of those successful models. He said formation of the company would also be approved by the CDA Board; however, it would be done within weeks. “We are committed to bring buses on road within next three months,” he assured, adding the Prime Minister had assigned the Task Force to develop Islamabad on modern lines by providing people all amenities with respectable and affordable public transport at top.
Butt said the company would be allowed to invite private companies to become part of CDA’s service but they would have to follow the CDA-carved rules. When asked as who would finance first phase of the bus service till the transport company generates revenue, he said it is yet to be decided whether the CDA would fund the initial phase or engage a private company for the purpose.
He said as per plan, bus should be available at a stop after every five minutes during peak hours and 15 minutes in off-peak hours and that movement of all buses would also be time-bound.
He said as per international standards, there is no red signal for Rapid Bus Transit and to inculcate this feature, the CDA would install intelligent lighting system across the capital to adjust timing of traffic signals with that of buses’ arrival. He said all bus stops would be re-developed on left to the roads as per traffic rules, adding their elevation would be equal to that of buses to help senior citizens and special persons easily move into bus.
According to a recent survey conducted by National Transport Research Centre, around 23,688 people travel from Faizabad to Pak Secretariat, 18,517 from Faizabad to sector G-10, 17,310 from I-10 to Secretariat and 8,270 from Abpara to Bhara Kahu. However, owing to repeated claims made by the city fathers, the residents are yet uncertain whether they would ever get riddance from bogus transport service.
 “Let us see when this idea would be executed. But it is sure people can more tolerate humiliation on part of ill-mannered transporters. Set aside the skyrocketing fuel prices, the transporters seldom complete their designated routes and over-charge too,” said Shahjahan, a commuter awaiting transport at Peshawar Morh.