Based on research and various studies conducted by the Punjab government and the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the provincial and federal governments joined forces in the early 2010s to launch the Islamabad metro bus project.
Graana.com, Pakistan’s smartest property portal, takes a detailed look at the metro bus routes in Islamabad.
Overview of Islamabad and Rawalpindi Metro Bus
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Operation Area | Islamabad to Rawalpindi |
| Inauguration Date | June 4, 2015 |
| Key Features | – Two-lane limited access corridor with passing lane at stations – Elevated portion from Saddar to IJP (8.3 km) – 24 stations (14 at-grade, 10 elevated) – Platform sliding doors – Elevators and escalators – Automated fare collection system with off-board ticketing – Bus scheduling system – Vehicle location system – Passenger information system – 68 articulated air-conditioned buses |
| Ridership | Highest ridership of 151,000 per day |
| Total Passengers Transported | 76 million passengers |
| Helpline Numbers | Rawalpindi Metrobus System: (051) 111-222-627 |
| Operating Authority | Punjab Mass transit Authority (PMA) |
Since the Punjab government had completed a metro bus project in Lahore, the Prime Minister delegated responsibility to the provincial government through the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA). Once the metro bus project is completed, it was decided that the Punjab Metro Bus Authority (PMA) will handle its operation and maintenance.
The twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi are connected by the Islamabad and Rawalpindi Metro Bus. Since its launch in 2015, the system has gained popularity among locals and tourists as a means of transportation.
Modern buses that run on compressed natural gas are part of the Metro Bus system, which has designated bus lanes. The air-conditioned buses provide passengers with a pleasant and economical ride.
The system now has 24 stations spread out along the 23-kilometer stretch from the Pak Secretariat in Islamabad to the Saddar neighborhood of Rawalpindi.
The Metro Bus system has lessened the Twin Cities traffic congestion, and commuter travel times have also decreased. The buses follow a rigid timetable to guarantee that passengers reach their destination on time. Since the buses use clean fuel, the technology has also reduced pollution.
Overall, the Islamabad and Rawalpindi Metro Bus system has become necessary for residents of the twin cities. It is desirable for commuters due to its cutting-edge infrastructure, smooth trip, and reasonable costs.
Line 1 Metro Bus Stations List
Line 1 became operational in June 2015. It starts in front of the Pakistan Secretariat, cuts through the center of Islamabad, and ends at Saddar, the commercial center of Rawalpindi.
The stations or metro bus stops on the route are:
- Pak Secretariat
- Parade Ground
- Shaheed-e-Millat
- 7th Avenue
- Stock Exchange
- PIMS
- Katchehry
- Ibn-e-Sina
- Chaman
- Kashmir Highway
- Faiz Ahmed Faiz
- Khayaban-e-Johar
- Potohar
- IJP
- Faizabad
- Shamsabad
- 6th Road
- Rehmanabad
- Chandni Chowk
- Waris Khan
- Committee Chowk
- Liaqat Bagh
- Marrir Chowk
- Saddar
Line 2 Metro Bus Stations List
The 27-km line 2 from Kashmir Highway metro station runs parallel to the Srinagar Highway, and ends at the new Islamabad International Airport. As seen in the above metro bus route map the bus stops in line 2 are:
- Srinagar Highway
- H-9/G-9
- IIUI/G-10
- High Court
- H-11/G-11
- NUST/G-12 (East)
- NUST/G-12 (West)
- Golra Mor/G-13
- Grand Trunk Road
- Jammu & Kashmir/ G-15
- Badhana Kalan/G-16
- M1/M2 Interchange
- Rakh Pind Ranjha
- Islamabad Airport
Fare and Timings
If you are thinking of the metro bus timings the Islamabad metro bus service operates from 6:15 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The system employs an Intelligent Transportation System wand as well as an e-ticketing system.
The Punjab Metro Bus Authority (PMBA) manages it, while the Punjab IT Board manages the automated system. Since they are both parts of the same transportation system, the Rawalpindi metro bus timings are also the same.
Aside from that, there are ticket booths, escalators, toiletries, platform screens, turnstiles for automatic fare collection, and other amenities that help passengers travel safely and easily. There is also a central ITS control room, which monitors the entire bus rapid transit system operation. Passengers who travel by metro bus in Islamabad are generally pleased with the modern amenities, such as air-conditioned buses and free WiFi.
How to Buy a Ticket for Metro Bus Service
Passengers using public transportation in Islamabad must have a fare media, token, or metro bus card. This can be purchased or recharged at the various metro bus stations’ ticket offices or Ticket Vending Machines (TVM).
To purchase a token from the TVM, select the number of tokens desired, enter the required amount (PKR 30 per token), and then take the receipt and token. On the other hand, the metro bus card costs approximately PKR 130. Passengers can return the card and reclaim the deposit, but only if the cards are in good working order.
When a metro bus card is tapped on the turnstile bay, the passenger has only 30 seconds to pass through. If you do not pass in those 30 seconds, the trip fare will be deducted. Additionally, when you tap the card at entry and exit points, it displays the remaining balance.
Buying a Ticket or Card
The metro bus card and token serve the same purpose, but the card is more suitable for someone who commutes daily to school/university or their workplace as they won’t have to wait in line for a token. On the other hand, a token is good for a single trip as it has a time limit of about an hour, after which the token is not accepted at the turnstile.
In case the token runs out of time and the person has not exited from the turnstile, he or she is charged 50 rupees which must be paid in cash on the spot. The same process is followed if the carrier loses the token.
Facts on Islamabad Metro Bus Service
| Line 1, which starts from Pak Secretariat and ends in Saddar, has a total length of 23 km. |
| There are 24 stations on Line 1, which cost around 44.8 billion rupees to construct. |
| Line 2, which starts from Kashmir Highway and ends at the Islamabad Airport, is 25.6 km. |
| The metro bus rapid transit system was the first system in the country that used e-tickets. |
| Currently, one ticket costs 30 rupees for Line 1 and for Line 2 it costs around 50 Rs. |
| The project currently has 68 buses, of which 60 are actively used while eight are kept in a spare. |
| Metro was previously operated by a Turkish company M/S Platform Turizm. |
| Upon completion of the contract on 31 August 2021, the new contract was awarded to VEDA Transit. |
| The Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMA) finalises the metro bus schedule and rates. |
| The phone number for Metro Bus Islamabad is (051) 111-222-627. |
Airport Metro Route Update
The Peshawar Morr to Islamabad International Airport is currently under construction. G-10 Station, NUST Station, NHA Station, M1-M2 Junction Station, Grand Trunk Road Station, G-1 Station, Badana Kalan Station, and Airport Station are among the nine bus stops.
The metro bus project has 12 bridges, 26 culverts, and 11 underpasses. The National Highway Authority (NHA) has requested PKR 1.5 billion from the federal government to complete the project and estimated that the commuters paying PKR 500 to PKR 1200 for taxis would benefit the most.
The project had originally begun in January 2017 and was to be completed in four phases:
- Under the first phase, the section from the Kashmir Highway metro station to the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) was to be finished.
- The second phase would continue from NUST until the Grand Trunk (GT) Road.
- The third phase was to continue from GT Road to the Interchange.
- The last phase was for the completion of underpasses and bridges.
However, as of March 2022, the project has yet to be inaugurated. The New Islamabad International Airport, with its modern infrastructure and facilities, is the country’s largest airport.
People have shown a strong interest in properties near New Islamabad International Airport and are eagerly awaiting the completion of the Kashmir Highway to Islamabad International Airport route so that they can take advantage of it.
The Work Goes On
The metro bus service is open today as the airport route of the capital city’s metro bus system is currently being extended from the Kashmir Highway metro station to Islamabad International Airport, as originally planned.
It will significantly improve connectivity between the airport and many key city areas, making daily commutes easier. A shuttle bus service will connect the Kashmir Highway metro station, which serves as the route’s starting point, with various parts of the capital. The National Highway Authority (NHA) completed work on a 27-kilometer road for the new metro bus route last year for PKR 16 billion.
The purchase of 30 new buses for the Peshawar Mor-Islamabad Airport BRT route is currently in progress. The Capital Mass Transit Authority (CMTA) is also being formed to oversee the operations of Islamabad’s metro bus service. The Capital Development Authority will directly manage and control the CMTA once established (CDA).
Places Near Metro Bus Stations
| Parade Ground | Marriott Hotel, Pakistan National Council of Arts |
| Shaheed-e-Millat | Poly Clinic, Aabpara, Press Club, Super Market, Melody Food Street, GPO |
| 7th avenue | Jinnah Super, Food Street, Lal Quarters, Satara Market |
| Stock Exchange | Saudi Pak Tower, Stock Exchange Building |
| PIMS | PIMS metro bus station, Faisal Masjid, Zoo, Daman-e-Koh |
| Katchery | F-9 Park, Katchery |
| Ibn-e-Sina | F-9 Park, Katchery |
| Chaman | Karachi Company, Mazoor Hospital |
| Kashmir Highway | Motorway chowk bus stop, Golra mor bus stop, FIA Headquarters, Allama Iqbal Open University, Hilal-e-Ahmer, Sunday Bazar, Peshawar More, Nadra, EOBI, NUST, Zero Point, PID, Islamic University |
| Faiz Ahmed Faiz | HEC, Polytechnic College, SZABIST, National Language, Federal Board, Education, H-8 Graveyard |
| Khayban-e-Johar | Margalla Railway Station, NUML, Sui Northern Gas, Industrial Area |
| Potohar | I-9 Markaz, I-8 |
| IJP | Pindora Chungi Bus Stop, Double Road, Food Street, Stadium, Pirwadahi Road |
| Faizabad | Bus Stops (addah), Rawal Dam, Islamabad Highway |
| Shamsabad | Pir Mehar Ali Shah University, Nawaz Sharif Park, Double Road, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Food Street, Art Council |
| 6th Road | Post Graduate College, Sixth Road Stop, Govt. College Satellite Town |
| Rehmanabad Metro Bus Station | Commercial Market, Sadiqabad |
| Chandani Chowk | Central Hospital, Rawal Road, Holy Family, Asghar Mall |
| Waris Khan | Bani, Jama Masjid Road, Sarafa Bazar, Naz Cinema |
| Committee Chowk | District Headquarter Hospital, Raja Bazar, Rawal Road, Punjab Institute of Cardiology |
| Liaquat Bagh | Raja Bazar, RDA, Gordon College, Savour Foods |
| Mareer Chowk | Rawalpindi Katchery, Fatima Jinnah Women University, CB College, Jinnah Park |
| Saddar | Bank Road, Railway Station, CMH, AFIC, CSD, GPO, Cantonment General Hospital |
Extension of Metro Bus Service
Like Metro Bus Lahore stations, there have previously been historical extensions to the Islamabad and Rawalpindi Metro Bus systems, and future extensions are planned. Two more stations were added to the system in 2018 to extend the route from Saddar in Rawalpindi to Pakistan’s Secretariat in Islamabad.
The system originally had 24 stations when it was first introduced. The two new stations were Faizabad and Peshawar Mor, and the extension extended the track by an additional 5.6 kilometres. In addition, there are plans to expand the Metro Bus network even deeper into Islamabad and Rawalpindi’s suburbs.
In addition to connecting additional communities to the system, the proposed extensions will increase the number of stations along the current route. The additions would enhance connection and accessibility, facilitating movement between various areas of the twin cities.
Although the timetable and specifics of the suggested extensions have not yet been disclosed, they are anticipated to be put into effect soon. The twin cities’ residents stand to gain significantly from the extensions, which will raise awareness of the Metro Bus system as a practical and dependable transit method.
At Graana blog, you can find more information on all the latest construction projects in Pakistan.
FAQs
Here are some FAQs about Rawalpindi and Islamabad metro bus routes:
What are the operating hours of Rawalpindi and Islamabad metro bus routes?
The operating hours of Rawalpindi and Islamabad metro bus routes are from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, seven days a week.
How can one purchase tickets for Rawalpindi and Islamabad metro bus routes?
Tickets for the Rawalpindi and Islamabad metro bus routes can be purchased at the ticket vending machines located at all metro bus stops.
How frequent are the bus services on Rawalpindi and Islamabad metro bus routes?
The frequency of bus services on Rawalpindi and Islamabad metro bus routes is every 2 to 5 minutes. If you search ‘bus stop near me’ you will find the list of bus routes as well.
