EV buses ready to roll out
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has inaugurated the first electric bus service in Lahore.
She rode in an electric bus and inspected it. Provincial Transport Minister Bilal Akbar gave a detailed briefing about the electric bus service pilot project in Lahore.
The chief minister was informed that the electric bus has GPS location recorder, Wi-Fi, USB port and other facilities.
Each bus has 30 seats and the capacity for 80 passengers. The buses have ramps and seats reserved for differently-abled passengers.
For the first time, an anti-slip sheet has been used on the bus floor for the safety of passengers. Nine charging stations have been set up in Green Town for the electric buses.
The bus will be able to cover a distance of 250 kilometres after each charging and will complete its route four times.
A route display will also be seen in the bus by passengers. A separate section for women will be designated and cameras will be installed to prevent harassment. As per the briefing, 27 electric buses will be operated on a 21km route.
The e-bus will travel between the Lahore Railway Station and Green Town via Queens Road, Mozang, Ferozepur Road, Campus Bridge and Ichra Canal.
About 17,000 passengers will be able to travel on Lahore's first e-bus service daily.
The electric vehicle (EV) bus service will start in mid-February with 42 bus shelters to be established on the route, where buses will arrive after every nine minutes.
An app will be launched for bus tracking.
The fare of the electric bus can be paid through digital wallets and cards.
A universal transport card will also be issued for travelling in the city.
Training of 70 drivers for the electric buses has begun.
The chief minister directed the officials to review installation of solar fans and water coolers at bus stands and ordered the installation of Safe City Authority cameras at every stand. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also presided over a meeting to review an e-taxi project.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed the authorities concerned to review the prospects of assembling e-taxis in Punjab along with taking steps to establish electric charging stations in collaboration with the private sector.
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