Bus Train Service Launched

By Fazal SherISLAMABAD: Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) and National Transport Research Centre (NTRC) on Monday launched Friendship Bus Train Service.Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Traffic, Zubair Hashmi told journalists on the occasion that the service would improve public transport facilities and help reduce traffic problems in the capital city.

He said mostly, commuters from low-income groups would benefit from the service whose route was from Pak Secretariat to G-11. He said stop-to-stop fare for the service had been fixed at Rs 10.He said the 150-seat bus train would consist of three compartments, one for women and two for men.

The SSP (Traffic) said the NTRC had launched the same service 10 years ago but had to abandon it after a short time due to financial constraints.He said the ITP and the NTRC had got repairable vehicles of old service ready for Friendship Bus Train Service. He said the ITP would take care of the service.

He said more vehicles would be put on the city’s different routes in future.Hashmi said the ITP had prepared a plan to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the city during Ramazan.He said traffic policemen would be deployed at all busy intersections and near big mosques in the city during Iftar.He said the ITP had launched a campaign to create awareness of traffic rules among road users.

He said people hampering traffic in fast lanes by driving vehicles slow would be ticketed in future.The SSP (Traffic) said the ITP had begun issuing tickets to motorists found not fastening seatbelt, using cell phone or travelling with high beams on during nighttime.

He said no violators of traffic rules would be spared.Hashmi said fine for not fastening seatbelt was Rs 300 and that for using mobile phone during driving or traveling with high beams on Rs 200.