Punjab to Distribute Electric Buses in 24 Districts

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Saturday directed that 240 electric buses be provided to 24 districts of South Punjab on priority basis.

Chairing a special meeting to review the progress of the electric bus project and other major transport initiatives, the chief minister said that the culture of allocating new projects exclusively to big cities needs to change.

“Villages should be brought at par with big urban centres, for me all districts are equal,” Maryam Nawaz said, adding that development should be inclusive, with facilities as per public needs.

According to a briefing during the meeting, the first batch of 240 electric buses will be distributed to 24 districts in the initial phase.

500 additional e-buses will be introduced in Lahore, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Multan and Rawalpindi between August and October, while another 600 will reach the province by the end of this year.

Of these, 400 electric buses will be deployed in Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kasur and Lahore under the Punjab Clean Air Program. Maryam Nawaz directed the authorities to finalize the routes based on the commuting pattern and public convenience, and to complete all public utility projects as soon as possible without any delay.

The meeting also reviewed the Gujranwala Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. It was informed that the system will stretch for about 22 kilometers from Rahwali to Aimanabad, with 28 stations and 80 feeder buses to connect the outlying areas with the main corridor. The feasibility of extending the BRT route to Gakhar Mandi was also considered.

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Officials said that buses will run every eight minutes on the Gujranwala BRT route, and four electric bus depots will be established to support the system. The Chief Minister directed the Transport Department to develop smart traffic management solutions for the BRT corridor.

The progress on Faisalabad’s Orange Line and Red Line transport systems was also reviewed. The Red Line, spread over 23.4 km with 24 stations, is expected to cater to over 185,000 passengers daily. The Orange Line will cover a 29 km route with 21 stations and will accommodate an estimated 111,000 passengers daily.

On the directions of Maryam Nawaz, the route of the Red Line has been extended to connect Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC) with Salami Chowk.