Update: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has denied reports claiming a hike in metro bus fares across the city.
A CDA spokesperson clarified that fares for the Orange, Blue, Green, and Electric buses remain unchanged.
The official also dismissed the rumours circulating on social media, calling them false and misleading.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has increased fares of metro and electric buses operating in Islamabad by 100 percent. The fare hike applies to the Orange, Green, and Blue Line metro bus services as well as the electric feeder buses running across the city.
All one-way fares, previously fixed at Rs. 50, have been raised to Rs. 100. This includes stop-to-stop fares on CDA-operated electric buses, which will now also cost Rs. 100, regardless of distance. The revised fare structure will come into effect from Monday, May 26.
The fare hike will directly impact over 90,000 commuters who use the metro and electric bus services daily across Islamabad. The public transport system covers 17 major routes and serves as the primary mode of transportation for students, workers, and low-income residents.
According to CDA officials, the fare increase comes in response to a decision to reduce the subsidy being provided on these transport services. The subsidy has been lowered from 50 percent to 30 percent, forcing the authority to pass some of the financial burden on to commuters.
Despite the fare hike, the CDA will continue to pay a significant annual subsidy ranging between Rs. 1.5 billion to Rs. 1.75 billion. Previously, the authority was bearing an annual subsidy of Rs. 3.5 billion for the metro and electric bus services.