Private firm to ply buses for new airport

Rawalpindi: Total 66 air-conditioned buses will be plied for people travelling to newly-built, Islamabad International Airport, said Khalid Yameen Satti, Secretary, District Regional Transport Authority (DRTA).

The government has decided to inaugurate the newly-built Islamabad International Airport (IIAP) on April 20, 2018. Talking to ‘The News’ Khalid Yameen Satti said that they are negotiating with a private transport company to ply their buses to facilitate passengers to bring them to newly established Islamabad International Airport.

The private transport company has assured to ply total 66 buses in first phase. The transport company will ply 37 buses from Rawat to newly built Islamabad International Airport while 29 buses from Koral Chowk to airport, he said.

“We have fixed the fare according to distance as distance from Rawat to airport was 43.9 kilometres and distance from Koral Chowk to airport is 35.2 kilometres, he said. He said that transport company has fixed fare of Rs270 per person from Rawat to airport while fare from Koral Chowk to airport was yet to be finalised. “We are trying to lower down the fares,” he added.

The air-conditioned buses are 30 to 32 seaters. According to route plan, the buses would reach Kutcherry Chowk through GT Road then they will ply on Haider Road and move towards to Jhangi Syedan and use motorway link road to reach new Islamabad International Airport. The buses will take 30 to 40 minutes to reach airport, said Yameen Satti.