By: S.K. Sami
PESHAWAR: Special Assistant on Information to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif while talking to a press conference on the annual performance report of year 2021 told that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is an initiative of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the interest of the public to serve them with a state-of-the-art public transport system. The service received international recognition and awarded by UN Women for exceptional services to female, as well the Bus Rapid Transit provides facilities to Trans Genders and special persons with reserved seats, he added.
Talking on the occasion Barrister Saif lauded that the project with environment-friendly buses is the first of its kind in the country which also plays its role towards better environment and tree plantation. He added even during the Pandemic which jolted all sectors of life BRT successfully commuted more than 50 million people by ensuring and implementing SOPs guided by the government of Pakistan, while after the resumption of the normal state of life from Covid waves the average daily ridership of BRT reached to more than 220,000. It was claimed in the conference that prior to BRT the average of female commuters in the city was less than 2% but after commencement of Bus Rapid Transit service it reached to about 20% due to ease in travelling in a safe favorable environment. In 2021 more than 1 million BRT Zu cards have been purchased by public while the project management has resolved more than 12000 complaints, scrapped more than 350 old buses and wagons which contributed a lot in reducing the air pollution and traffic congestion in the city, the Special Assistant briefed. The panel has said that on public demand, TransPeshawar has commenced another Express route and Zu-Bicycle sharing system to facilitate maximum passengers in addition to existing routes. Not only but Zu- Mobile application is the unique and innovative project started in the ongoing year. The project management along with the spoke person of Government furthered that the System solved traffic problems followed by providing access to all citizens. Saif added that the recent international recognition of BRT Peshawar from ITDP is another honor for Pakistan in general and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in particular. He while appreciating the project mentioned that Trans Peshawar with their untiring efforts also bagged award from UN Women Pakistan for providing a harassment-free atmosphere and service for females. Saif Ali stated that undoubtedly BRT is a blessing for the city and due to which traffic accidents in city have lessened, traffic congestion reduced and the average travel expense of common man reduced remarkably. During the occasion, he also shared that BRT Peshawar following the Clean & Green vision of the Government planted more than 3000 plants, conducted numerous awareness-raising activities, and provided a platform to multiple public organizations for the same cause. He shared that the department has already explored and executed no-fare revenue streams which will be a source of earnings for BRT and soon after the completion of 3 under Construction Park & ride plazas more buses will be part of the system and more revenue generation will be possible. Spokesperson TransPeshawar stated that the department is working day and night to provide the best transportation services to the citizen of Peshawar. He added that without the cooperation of the public it is next to impossible to maintain the service quality.