Islamabad: Islamabad Bus Project has been pushed onto the backburner due to a lack of funds, according to a news report. The project was slated to provide affordable commute to the people of Islamabad through six routes selected by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under its urban sustainability project for the city.
In 2017, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) from private companies for the operation, maintenance, and management of the buses under the project. Responding to the invite, four private firms showed interest and the UNDP identified six routes for them to submit their proposals for a safe, convenient, and comfortable bus service. However, when Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz’s tenure was over, progress on the project halted.
This was attributed to a lack of funds and other such roadblocks. The project is now eight months overdue, with no completion date in sight. According to Aziz, the IMC was considering to import 50 air-conditioned electric buses, and 56 diesel buses. He stated that the project would be managed in two stages and it remains to be seen how it will be developed by the IMC with or without the support of the CDA.
