CDA to Reduce Waiting Time for Electric Buses Across Islamabad

Islamabad’s electric bus service has crossed a ridership of 100,000, prompting the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to accelerate expansion of the fleet. Officials confirmed that the CDA has formally requested the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) to provide 60 additional electric buses to meet growing commuter demand.

According to CDA, the frequency of buses on both short and long routes will be increased. At present, buses on longer routes operate every 30 to 45 minutes; the authority plans to reduce this interval to 15 minutes. On city routes, where buses currently run every 15 minutes, the frequency will be enhanced to a 10-minute interval to improve accessibility.

The decision comes as ridership continues to rise across Islamabad’s public transport network. CDA stated that the surge in passengers necessitated a larger fleet to provide uninterrupted and timely services. NRTC will seek approval from the concerned ministry for procurement of new electric buses.

Under the current arrangement, CDA pays NRTC according to a per-kilometer system for operating the electric fleet. The CDA initially planned to run electric buses on 13 routes across the capital, but due to growing demand, the service is now operational on 18 routes.

Islamabad’s electric bus service was launched in December last year and has since expanded rapidly, becoming a key component of the city’s sustainable transport strategy.