GUJRAT: The Punjab government has announced plans to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for the introduction of eco-friendly public transport in five cities across the province.
According to sources, the targeted cities are Gujrat, Gujranwala, and Sialkot in central Punjab, as well as Rawalpindi in the north and Sargodha in the west.
The primary objective of the study is to identify urban routes, plan transportation infrastructure, determine the number of buses required, assess population density, and evaluate the existing businesses in the selected cities.
A senior official from the transport department mentioned that similar studies have already been completed in Lahore, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Mianwali.
The official further stated that the decision regarding the use of electric or hybrid buses for the eco-friendly public transport system is yet to be finalized.
Furthermore, the feasibility study is expected to take approximately 8 to 9 months once the allocated budget, already approved by the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP), is utilized.
While metro buses have already been launched in Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi, the official highlighted that comprehensive planning for the entire city routes has only been conducted in Lahore thus far.
The upcoming study aims to cover all transportation routes in the selected cities, ensuring that residents have access to a modern and high-quality transport service.
Currently, most cities in Punjab lack a coordinated transport system, except for the metro bus services available in the three major cities.
The cities of Gujrat, Gujranwala, and Sialkot in central Punjab are widely recognized as the golden industrial triangle of Pakistan, contributing significantly to the country’s exports.
These cities have a combined population of approximately 14 million, making the implementation of eco-friendly public transport crucial for sustainable urban development.
Sources: DAWN
