Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) is the first transport system in Peshawar for inter-city travellers. It was initially planned in 2013 when the PTI government walked into the KPK’s provincial assembly for the first time in its history. Peshawar is a densely populated city, and by the time, there were no transport facilities for the indigenous people. The Parvez Khattak cabinet paid heed to it and sought to solve the chaotic traffic condition of the city. For that purpose, they requested Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA) to help them solve the mismanaged transportation network of the city. The CDIA did in-depth research of the routes and presented their Urban Transport PRE-Feasibility Study documents to Capital Development Authority (CDA). The work on the project started in 2017, and in 2020, PM Khan inaugurated the BRT Project.
The government is planning to introduce the BRT system in Islamabad.
Total Budget:
The Asian Development Bank assisted the KP Govt. in building the BRT Project. Initially, the estimated cost of the project was PKR 48.8 billion. However, the project cost a total of PKR 71 billion in the end.
The KPK government’s financial status could not deliver such a big project, so they borrowed PKR 48.8 billion to accomplish the project.
Vehicles:
The vehicles used in BRT are buses. The fleet consists of 255 busses. Among them, 65 are 18-meter-long busses while the remaining are 12-meter-long buses. These buses are acquired from Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Co. Ltd. it cost PKR 5.478 billion for the KP government to own 255 buses. The buses fleet is expected to increase to 388 buses.
The best thing about the buses is they are eco-friendly. All the buses are fully air-conditioned. The authority is confident that it will decrease the carbon emission in the city. And by doing so, the pollution rate of the city is expected to be reduced in the upcoming years.
Stations:
The System consists of a total of 32 stations. Each station is at a distance of 850 meters from another station. However, the stations are not air-conditioned.
Routes:
BRT system’s routes are 49% elevated. Around 38% of routes are at grade while 17% in underpasses. Approximately there are 3.4 kilometres of underpasses, 10.5 kilometres road is at grade, 13.7 kilometres line is elevated, i.e., flyovers. There are bridges, elevators, and stairs to cross the BRT corridor for pedestrians.
Construction:
BRT corridor was completed in three phases, i.e., Chamkani to Balahisar Fort, Balahisar Fort to Aman Chowk, and Aman Chowk to Karkhano Market.
Fares:
The fares of BRT are very economical as the lowest fare is PKR 10. However, traveling from the first station to the last will cost you PKR 50.
Salient Features of BRT:
The salient features of BRT are given below;
- The short distance between stations, i.e., 850 meters
- Pedestrian lane
- High-class buses
- Bicycle lane
- Economical
- Eco-friendly
- Fewer fares
- Longlasting project
Benefits of BRT System:
There are numerous benefits of the BRT System. Some of them are given below;
- It reduces the hustling traffic in Peshawar.
- Poor people can save a lot of money by using BRT System
- Women and children can travel easily in it
- The buses are eco-friendly, so it will help in containing the pollution in Peshawar
- Help in enhancing the job opportunities for youth.
- The city’s reputation gets bright after BRT System.
Conclusion:
BRT System was the need of the hour, and the government did an excellent job to provide the safest traveling to the people of Peshawar. It is now the responsibility of the people to take care of it and use it carefully.