Faisalabad, a bustling city in Pakistan, is set to experience a significant transformation in its public transportation system. The Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) has announced plans to implement a Metro Bus Service, a project estimated to cost a substantial Rs70 billion.
The Routes
This ambitious initiative, approved by the Punjab government, aims to provide the city’s residents with a comfortable, affordable, and efficient intra-city travel option. The Metro Bus Service is expected to revolutionize the way people commute within Faisalabad.
The FDA has outlined three primary routes for the Metro Bus Service. The first route will connect Kamalpur Motorway Interchange to Samundri Road Bypass, passing through key city points. The second route will cover Narwala Ada to Satiana Road Fish Farm, while the third will link Jhang Road to Jaranwala Road.
To ensure comprehensive coverage, the FDA also plans to introduce feeder routes, which will connect to the main Metro Bus stations and provide transportation to areas that may not be directly served by the primary routes.
Initial Planning & Development
The FDA has already completed the initial planning stages for the project, which included conducting a comprehensive survey, sectoral counts, and developing a strategic transport framework. This data will be crucial in determining the optimal routes, infrastructure requirements, and operational procedures for the Metro Bus Service.
The project has garnered significant support from both national and international organizations. A consultative workshop was recently held in Lahore, chaired by the Punjab Minister for Transport and Mass Transit, Bilal Akbar Khan.
Representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other relevant stakeholders participated in the meeting to discuss the administrative and technical aspects of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
International and national experts shared their insights on the project’s design, operation, and proposed routes. The goal is to create a state-of-the-art public transport system that is comparable to those already in place in other major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar.
