Peshawar Launches Pink Bus Service for Women

Women to pay 25pc lower fares; BRT fleet expands to 296 buses with addition of 52 hybrid buses

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi inaugurated the pink bus service for women in Peshawar, along with 52 new hybrid buses, the solarisation of Chamkani depot and the newly established Mall of Hayatabad depot as part of efforts to expand and improve the province’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony at the Mall of Hayatabad depot, the chief minister said he had promised to introduce pink buses for women across the province and that the buses were now operating on the roads.

He announced that women travelling on the pink buses would be charged 25 percent lower fares than those applicable on other buses. He also appreciated the women drivers operating the service, describing them as role models for other women.

Officials gave a detailed briefing on the new hybrid buses, the solarisation of Chamkani depot, the establishment of the Mall of Hayatabad depot and other features of the projects.

The ceremony was informed that the Peshawar BRT system currently provides daily transport facilities to around 250,000 commuters, with women accounting for approximately 30 percent of passengers. The system is also estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 30,000 tonnes annually.

With the addition of 52 new buses, the total BRT fleet has increased to 296 buses. The new buses will facilitate the introduction of additional routes and help ease passenger pressure on existing routes.

The pink bus service has been introduced specifically to address the transportation needs of women. In the first phase, five pink buses will operate on selected routes during peak hours. Their number and routes will gradually be expanded.

Meanwhile, the procurement and construction of 50 additional buses and a new depot, at an estimated cost of Rs6.2 billion, is under way. Another 50 buses have been included in the current Annual Development Programme at a cost of Rs5 billion.

An additional Rs1.5 billion has been allocated for complete solarisation of the BRT system. Once completed, the solarisation project is expected to further reduce the system’s electricity costs.