New airport staff to get subsidised fare passes

Rawalpindi: The District Regional Transport Authority (DRTA) to issue subsidised fare passes to the staff of new Islamabad International Airport. The staff will get the passes of Rs2,500 per month for commuting from May 3, 2018.

The city district government, Rawalpindi with the cooperation of a private transport company is going to launch 66 air-conditioned buses for travelling to and from the new airport tomorrow (April 20).

DRTA Secretary Khalid Yameen Satti told ‘The News’ that Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has provided us parking space to pick and drop the passengers within the limit of the airport. He said, “Busses are ready to ply on roads after getting green signal from CAA, initially the operation will start with 20 buses on both routes from Rawat and Koral Chowk to the airport.”

The transport company has assured to ply total of 66 buses in the first phase, 37 from Rawat and 29 from Koral Chowk. “We have decided to issue special subsidised fares cards of Rs2,500 to the airport staff to commute to and from the airport,” he said.

The concerned authority has fixed the fare of Rs270 per person from Rawat (43.9 kilometres) to airport and distance from Koral Chowk to airport is 35.2 kilometres and fair is yet not finalised.

It is worth mentioning here that construction of metro track from Peshawar More to New Islamabad International Airport is not completed so far. Passengers have no option other then to hire a cab to reach the airport which is far from the city areas.

CAA Joint Director (Media) Farah Hussain said that flight schedules have been issued for the new airport which is going to be operational from April 20. All concerned departments with their staff including Airport Security Force officials have already been shifted to the new airport. Other staff will be shifted today (April 19), she said. She said that Benazir Bhutto International Airport will be used for VIP movement later.

According to notification issued by Director APS/Chairman Task Force Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), IIAP Islamabad Muhammad Salman Athar operationalisation of IIAP has been rescheduled to May 3 rather April 20, 2018. All necessary departments and concerned staff including Airport Security Force (ASF) officials have already shifted to new airport. Other staff will shift till May 3.