Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi formally inaugurated new hybrid buses being added to the Peshawar BRT fleet, the dedicated Pink Bus Service for women, the Mall of Hayatabad BRT Depot, and the 1 MW Solar Project at Chamkani Depot.
KP CM inaugurates new buses, projects of Peshawar BRT
PESHAWAR, Sep 29 (APP): Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi formally inaugurated new hybrid buses being added to the Peshawar BRT fleet, the dedicated Pink Bus Service for women, the Mall of Hayatabad BRT Depot, and the 1 MW Solar Project at Chamkani Depot.
The ceremony was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister on Finance Muzammil Aslam, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Transport & Mass Transit Sami Ullah Khan, Secretary Transport & Mass Transit Muhammad Zubair, Managing Director Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Urban Mobility Authority (KPUMA) Iftikhar Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer TransPeshawar Dr. Syed Murtaza Asghar Bukhari, and other distinguished guests.
On the occasion, CEO TransPeshawar Dr. Syed Murtaza Asghar Bukhari briefed the participants on Zu Peshawar’s performance over the past six years, services provided to citizens, key achievements, and future projects.
Secretary Transport & Mass Transit Muhammad Zubair said that the addition of new buses, new routes, and the Pink Bus Service would further improve the reach and quality of public transport, particularly for women.
He said initiatives such as solarization and the Hayatabad Depot would contribute to more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable BRT operations.
The Transport Department, he added, would continue working towards the development of modern, integrated, and environment-friendly public transport across the province.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Transport & Mass Transit Sami Ullah Khan reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting modern, sustainable, and environment-friendly public transport and providing improved mobility services to the public.
He said the new buses and other initiatives would further improve the reach and quality of public transport in Peshawar.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi highlighted the significance of the new buses, dedicated Pink Bus Service, Solar Project, and Hayatabad Depot, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing initiatives aimed at providing citizens with modern, safe, reliable, and environment-friendly transport services.
As part of the fleet expansion, new hybrid buses were inaugurated. With their addition, the Peshawar BRT fleet will increase from 244 to 296 buses.
The expanded fleet will help improve service frequency on existing routes, reduce passenger waiting times, and facilitate the extension of the BRT network to new areas.
A dedicated Pink Bus Service comprising five buses was also inaugurated to provide women with a safe, comfortable, and dignified travel option.
The service will operate along the 21-kilometre corridor from Gulbahar Chowk to Karkhano Market, Monday to Friday, during morning, noon, and evening peak hours.
The route covers 18 stations, with buses operating at approximately 15-minute intervals. The initiative is aimed particularly at facilitating female students, working women, and other female passengers by improving their access to education, employment, and daily activities.
The 1 MW Solar Project at Chamkani Depot was also inaugurated during the ceremony.
The project is expected to generate approximately 1.38 to 1.44 million units of electricity annually, resulting in estimated annual savings of approximately PKR 74.4 million. It is also expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 469 tonnes annually.
The Solar Project will help reduce dependence on grid electricity and lower energy costs. The inauguration of the Mall of Hayatabad BRT Depot was another key component of the ceremony.
The project will provide essential infrastructure to support the operational requirements of the expanding BRT fleet and network.
The depot includes bus parking, inspection and workshop facilities, a fuel station, an automatic bus washing plant, and facilities for drivers and staff.
The availability of a depot in Hayatabad will help reduce dead mileage for buses operating towards the area, improve operational efficiency, and enable more effective utilization of the fleet.
