Islamabad
Launching of Metro Bus Service (MBS) in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad has been appreciated by all segment of society, particularly workingwomen, female students and even housewives. Families have been enjoying travelling in Metro Buses with respect and convenience since its start on Thursday.
On Saturday the bus service started at around 6:00 a.m. while government employees who boarded the bus from different stations seemed happy to have the new service.
For a couple of days, the bus completes its route from Rawalpindi Saddar to Islamabad Pak-Secretariat within 48 minutes. Long queues of passengers were seen at every ticket booth in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Talking to 'The News' women, belonging to different walks of life, are convinced that the service is providing them a sense of security and dignity while travelling between the twin cities. In private wagons and mini-buses we used to pay high fares but in return we got humiliation and tension, they said.
Sobia Shaheen, a college student, said that she lives in Sadiqabad, Rawalpindi, and study in an Islamabad educational institution. "I faced worst situation in private transport but I am fully satisfied with Metro Bus service," she said.
"At least I am sure that my travelling from Rawalpindi to Islamabad would now be safe and without much frustration, in cool air-conditioned bus," said Ambreen Akhtar, a workingwoman.
While parents and families of the female students and workingwomen are also seemed somewhat relaxed with the launching of the Metro Bus Service.
Muhammad Bashir, a local, said that it was really a headache for him to bring his young daughter to college and his wife to her office from Rawalpindi because condition of the public transport was worse and in fact it was nothing less than a harassment. "After launch of Metro Buses, I have allowed them to go to their destinations on their own," he added.
Ammara Arshad, a workingwoman,
said that she had left her job in Islamabad because of absence of better transportation system in twin cities. "Now, I am restarting my job as I think travelling in Metro Bus Service is safe and convenient," she said.
For many the service is also a cost-effective. Muhammad Akbar, a waiter in a guesthouse in Islamabad, said that he used to spend about Rs100 to reach his job place from Saddar daily, but after the start of Metro Buses he is spending just Rs40."
Majority of people, who used to travel between the twin cities on their own vehicles to reach their job place, also said that they would likely opt for travelling in the Metro Buses. This trend also lower the traffic load on twin cities' roads.
"Personal vehicle becomes a burden some time, as it needs attention and sometime security, while it is also costly on daily bases. I think majority would abandon using their own vehicles if quality services for commuters are provided," said Manzoor Ahmed, a school principal, who travels daily from Rawalpindi to Islamabad.
Kiran Naaz, a school teacher in Islamabad, said that she lives at Railway Road, Rawalpindi, and teaches in a school in Sector G-9, Islamabad. She said she was facing worst kind of humiliation and tension during travelling from Rawalpindi to Islamabad. But for three days she has been travelling in Metro Buses with grace and feeling secure.