Work on the Kutchery Chowk remodeling project in Rawalpindi has reached approximately 75 percent completion, with the Punjab Highway Department (PHD) initiating construction of eight bus stops dedicated to electric buses along the corridor.
Punjab Highway Department Sub-Divisional Officer Masab Ali stated that the new bus bays are part of Phase-II expansion plans for the city’s electric bus network, which will link the District Courts with other key areas in the garrison city.
The identified sites for the bus stops include Fatima Jinnah Women University, District Courts main gate, Adiala Road Square, Lal Kurti, Rashid Minhas Road, Old Airport Road, and Jhelum Road.
A senior district administration official said that 45 electric buses are currently operating on seven routes, with plans to expand the fleet to 120 buses once the project is completed. He added that although more than 10 routes had been initially finalized, only seven became operational due to ongoing construction at Kutchery Chowk.
After completion, the routes will connect areas including Rawat T-Chowk, Koral Chowk, Soan Bridge, Motorway, and Rawalpindi Railway Station Saddar, improving accessibility to Raja Bazaar and other downtown locations.
The official further noted that dedicated bus lanes have been incorporated into the project design to streamline traffic flow. The Punjab Mass Transit Authority will manage the electric bus system, while the Regional Transport Authority has already allocated the bus routes.
