The rapid metro bus service between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, which was introduced last year, is being discontinued by the Punjab Masstransit Authority (PMA) for lack of funding and cars.
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As the “non-stop” bus service between the twin cities saved 20 minutes by making only seven stops, commuters have blasted the government for ending it.
The ordinary bus service on the same route made 24 stops, whereas the speedy metro bus service made just seven stops from Saddar in Rawalpindi to the Pakistan Secretariat in Islamabad.
Seven metro buses, out of a total of 68 vehicles, were assigned to run the express project, according to PMA General Manager of Operations Uzair Shah. He regretted that the idea resulted in financial losses even though regular commuters responded well to it.
He claimed that starting today, all metro buses on the Rawalpindi-Islamabad route will make 24 stops, and that the seven buses from the expedited service will be added back to the regular schedule.
The PMA representative stated that the 6th Road bus station will be operational by February 3rd, when it will be officially opened with a special ceremony