ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority has imposed strict speed ceilings for the city’s electric buses, instructing drivers to keep to 40 km/h in sector areas and 45 km/h on highways.
CDA officials said the advisory follows multiple reports of overspeeding that preceded at least three non-fatal accidents on different routes. The planning wing noted that the near-silent operation of electric buses, still a relatively new sight in the capital, demands additional caution from drivers and other road users.
The fleet is run by the National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC), which purchased 170 electric buses last year. Currently, approximately 120 vehicles are in daily service on around 20 routes, limited by the availability of charging infrastructure.
Depot upgrades, most notably the installation of new charging panels, are slated for completion later this month, after which authorities expect the whole fleet of 170 vehicles to be deployed.
Ridership currently stands at around 60,000 passengers per day, according to CDA estimates. With all buses on the road, the agency projects daily patronage could climb to 100,000.
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