The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is preparing to launch two new electric bus routes in Islamabad as the Zero Point charging depot reaches partial completion. The new routes will connect Khanapul to Nilor and G-9 to Faizabad, expanding the city’s eco-friendly transport network.
According to officials, 14 of the 20 charging points have already been installed at the Zero Point depot, and integration work is expected to be completed within the next two days. Once finished, the depot will begin full charging operations.
“After completing the integration process in the next couple of days, our issue of limited charging capacity will be resolved. We expect to begin operations on the two new routes by Wednesday,” a CDA official said.
Last year, the National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC), CDA’s transport contractor, imported 160 electric buses for the capital. Currently, 130 buses are operational across 21 routes, while the remaining units remain idle due to a shortage of charging facilities. The CDA compensates NRTC based on the per-kilometre travel of each bus.
The Zero Point depot project, valued at around Rs. 1.5 billion, began in January 2025 and was originally scheduled for completion by June. The facility has two sections — Site A and Site B — with finishing work on Site B, which includes a data center, expected to conclude by the end of next month.