ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is planning to launch a dedicated pink electric bus service for women in Islamabad, with an initial fleet of 30 buses aimed at providing safer and more convenient public transport.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to sources, the civic authority is working to engage relevant partners for acquiring the buses following directions from the federal government and the Ministry of Interior.
The CDA is expected to involve Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) in the procurement process, with the buses likely to be imported from China under a model similar to the existing Islamabad Electric Bus Service.
A senior CDA official confirmed that the authority had decided to introduce the women-only service and directed the relevant department to prepare a summary for approval by the CDA Board. Following approval, the authority will proceed with engaging HIT for the procurement of the buses.
The official said the decision was taken after observing difficulties faced by women and girls in finding sufficient space on existing electric buses, particularly during peak hours.
Currently, the CDA operates an electric bus service through a contractor across more than 20 routes in the federal capital, with a fleet of over 160 buses. The service has received an encouraging response from residents.
The proposed pink buses will initially operate on the existing electric bus routes, although additional routes may be introduced depending on passenger demand and operational requirements.
The CDA official said the authority was keen to launch the dedicated service as soon as possible, potentially within the next three months, subject to the necessary approvals and procurement arrangements.
Meanwhile, the civic authority is also moving forward with plans to introduce a double-decker bus service to promote tourism in Islamabad.
Under the initial proposal, four double-decker buses will operate on a 25-kilometre city tour starting from F-9 Park and covering major tourist attractions, including Faisal Mosque, Lok Virsa and Shakarparian.
The CDA has already secured approval from its Board, followed by approval of the project’s PC-I by the Development Working Party (DWP).
According to the official, the double-decker service is at an advanced stage and is expected to be launched soon, alongside efforts to introduce the dedicated pink electric bus service.
