Metropolitan Transit System for Rawalpindi/Islamabad

Prepared for

Madam Sarah Warris

General Public
CDA and RDA

Prepared By

The Pioneer

Afzal Ahmed

Muhammad Saeed

Muhammad Muzaffar Khan

Waqas Mehmood Khan

Shabir Ahmed

Muhammad Mazhar

Muhammad Tanvir

Rana Muhammad Sufyan

Comsats Institute of Information Technology

December 03, 2008

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the name of ALLAH the most gracious and the most merciful who created the whole universe and
who taught the humans what they did not know.
We are extremely thankful to ALLAH who gave us courage and ability to complete this project. It
was a difficult task for us to get the required information but by the grace of ALLAH we have
completed it successfully.

At the successful completion of our project we would like to extend our gratitude to all those without
their valuable guidance and support it would have not been possible.

With all sincerity and respect, we would like to express our gratitude to Madam Sarah Warris for
giving an opportunity to have corporate exposure and learning

We are thankful to transporters, authorities and general public who helped us in carry out our
project.
 DEDICATION

Dedicate to our parents and family who are most precious in our life and whose interest,
encouragement and well wishing will bring successful results for us in every field of life.
Also dedicate to our lecturer Madam Sarah Warris whose guidance and encouragement help us to
complete this project successfully.
 SUMMARY

MTS (Metropolitan Transit System) is a global practiced transport system, almost in every advanced
country. This system provides fast, convenient and good transport facilities in big cities.
This project seeks that whether this system fulfill the transport requirements of public in
Rawalpindi/Islamabad and how this system can be applied.
The objectives of the study include determining the difficulties faced by the public from the current
transport system. And the progress of current MTS (i-e VARAN)
A questionnaire was designed and survey was conducted with the target population as the general
public, students and employees use to travel in public transport.
 Abstract
Improving accessibility to employment, education, health, and transport is necessary for
improving the welfare of general pubic. Although the rate of pr iv at e t ra ns po rt is increasing
in developing countries, the bulk of low income population in the developing world does not
have the means to afford private transport. These urban people rely on public transit for
traveling. Thus, public transit plays a critical role in sustaining and improving the welfare of
general public by providing mobility to millions.

The past few decades have witnessed a continuous disinvestment in public transit by
governments in Pakistan. When the government funded mass transit disappeared from the
streets, the private sector stepped in to provide transit service, which left much to be desired in
terms
of efficient provision of quality service and safety.
Recently, provincial government of Punjab have embarked on bus-franchising schemes,
which offer exclusive service rights to operators on dedicated routes. The transit operators, in
return, guarantee a certain level of service. In Punjab, for example, bus-franchising scheme has
delivered hundreds of new buses now plying on intra-city routes.

Introduction
The 1990s have witnessed an increase in poverty levels in Pakistan. Low-income households
have experienced significant decline in their purchasing power. Most low- income households rely
on public transit for traveling. In most instances, public transit is the only available
means to access employment, education and health.

The rapid pace of urbanization in Pakistan has resulted in a significant increase in the
urban population at a time when resources have become increasingly scarce. While thousands
leave their rural abodes for cities in search of employment opportunities, the physical infrastructure
of cities in Pakistan is fast becoming incapable of meeting the demand for urban services.
Thus, water and housing shortages, and inadequate public transport services are common in most
Pakistani cities. Same is the case with Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
 Background of Topic of study

Twin city of Islamabad and Rawalpindi are growing at a rate of more than 4 percent per annum due
in migration. Present population of Islamabad alone is 1.2 million. Currently both cities
accommodate a population of over 2.78 million. With present growth trends it is expected to
increase to 7 million in twenty five years time. Vehicle population has exceeded 375,000 with
annual increase of 5 percent per annum over the last one decade, Currently private transport is the
major means of mobility between two cities whereas 1600 small and minibuses comprising of
Mazda, Toyota Hiace and Suzuki vans are plying on 16 routes within and between two cities.

A traffic volume between twin city is of over 210,000 vehicles carrying around 525,000 passengers.
It is estimated that public transport demand of around 158,000 passengers is available on daily basis
between the two cities.

Different passenger coaches (Hiaces) plying on Sadar, Pak Secretariat, Peshawar Mor, Chung #22,
Karachi Company, Faisal Mosque, Kachehry (Swan), Adyala Road, Golra Sharif, Barii Imam and
Pirwadhai routes of the twin city but they cannot cope with the heavy rush.

In order to meet the traffic needs of this growing population no significant effort was made by the
government. Only a single bus service was start in 1997 named as "Varan". The start of Varan bus
service was a good idea and it had helped overcome the transport problem to great extent but the
local transporters termed it a growing threat to their business and resisted its expansion after which
the service was terminated in February,2005. Though Varan has again started its service in
Rawalpindi but due to shortage of buses it has not expanded it to other routes of the twin city.
 Transport Problems

Currently Used Public Transport

Reflection of Problems

Following are the different problems faced by the public of Rawalpindi/Islamabad:

• No Proper Schedule
Current public transit does not follow proper schedule. Regular service is not effectively provided
during the peak period. Opening and closing time of service is not properly mentioned.
• Transporters are not Adhere to the published fares
Transit operators do not adhere to the published fares by the concerned authorities. This occurs
more during holidays, when most drivers leave for their native towns, resulting in a reduced
transit supply. The remaining transporter charge more then published.
• Not come on stands
During rush periods, transit vehicles do not stop on the stands to allow passengers to board.
This practice has severe safety implications and results as some accidents.
• Irregular stops
Transit vehicles make irregular stops to pick up or drop passengers. This often contributes to
congestion. The private transport is also affected by this practice.
• Over-crowding
Over-crowding is a common practice during rush period, passengers travel by hanging from the
exterior of transit vehicles and sometimes riding on the roof. Although the fares are charge equally
 but proper facility of transport is not provide.
• Incomplete entire routes
Drivers do not operate over the entire route and abandon passengers at stops where rider-
ship runs thin. They refuse to travel further and the passengers face a lot of problems.
• Operate only when vehicles are filled
Transit vehicles operate only when they are filled. Otherwise, they remain parked at the stop,
which results in congestion and great inconvenience to passengers.
• Poor maintenance
Transit vehicles are not properly maintained due to cut-throat competition and low profit
margins. Transporters pay no attention on the condition of their vehicles. Often such vehicles
are involved in accidents.
• Over Speeding
Over Speeding and risky driving, resulting from transit vehicles competing for passengers, causes
accidents. Unskilled drivers are common in twin city transport.
• Misbehave by transporters
Drivers and conductors are mostly uneducated and ill-mannered. They do not give respect to
passengers.
• No arrangement for Disabled and Senior citizens
There are no proper arrangements for the disabled and senior citizens. In some times transporters
don't even pick them up.
• No separate seats allocated for Female passengers
In the current transport system no separate seats are allocated for the ladies. Some transports
allocate front seat for ladies but most of transporters do not practice it.

What is MTS?
Mass transit refers to an inter-city or regional public shared transportation system, such as buses,
mini buses and bullet trains. It is an organized system of local transportation mostly used in large
cities.
Benefits of MTS
• Mass transit systems offer considerable savings in labor, materials, and energy over private
transit systems.
• MTS provide timely services as it operate according to time schedule.
• Special services are provided to Disabled and senior citizens.
• These systems strictly follow the published fares from the concerned authorities.
• MTS transport only stop on the pre-described stands.
• MTS completed the whole route properly.
• Fewer operators are required per passenger transported they can be better trained and more
strictly licensed and supervised.
• This type of transport is more safety and security.
• Good, educated and well-mannered staff is appointed for the jobs in these systems.
• MTS carry a far higher passenger load per unit of weight and volume than do private
vehicles.
• Separate portion are allocated for male and female passengers for the convenience.
 History of MTS

The history of mass transportation is connected to industrialization, urbanization, and the separation
of residence from workplace. Industrialization results urbanization and urbanization need more and
more transport facilities for traveling. Mass transit has evolved from conventional railways that were
developed in the late 18th century, with the first underground conventional system opened in 1804.
The first mass transit system opened was in London in 1863, then Boston installed (1898) the first
system in the United States; others followed in Paris (1900), Berlin (1902), New York (1904),
Madrid (1919), Tokyo (1927), and Moscow (1935). Toronto's system, completed in 1954, was the
first in Canada.. By the beginning of the 21st century there were 95 large systems in 59 countries. In
the last decade's growth of new systems has moved largely to Southeast Asia as in Malaysia and
India.
 Countries having successful MTS
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark,
France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand,
Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and
the United Kingdom, as well as the United States..

MTS Buses in other cities of Punjab & Punjab's Franchising Scheme

In last decade Punjab government have taken many steps to promote MTS in different cities of Punjab,
for this purpose Punjab's franchising scheme was introduced. Following are the salient feature of
Punjab’s franchising scheme:
• Franchise of a route is awarded through a transparent and competitive bidding process.
• Franchise period is 10 years.
• Franchise affords exclusivity of operations on the franchised route, provided the franchisee
is able to cater to the entire load of passengers;
• Fares are flexible.
• A subsidy of 4% and 8% is offered on the mark-up of loans obtained by the
operator for the purchase of buses.
Bids are advertised in the press. A bids evaluation committee, made up of senior bureaucrats from
the province, evaluates all bids, with special attention to the financial stability of the bidding
operator. The recommended bids are sent to the provincial chief minister for approval, who issues
the franchise for an initial 10-year period.
The government’s role in franchising is not merely restricted to awarding franchises or regulating
fare. In Punjab, franchise operators can also lease land, terminals, and depots previously used by
the state-owned Punjab Road Transport Corporation. The government also offers lower interest
rates for loans to import buses, along with exemption from import duties. Both foreign and
local franchise operators can bid for franchises. The minimum fleet requirement for large cities is
40 new buses; for small cities, 20 new buses. The government also offers protection to direct
foreign investment.
Table 1: MTS in Punjab
City Operator No. of Vehicles
Lahore
M/S New Khan Metro Bus 255
M/S Dawoo City Bus 70
M/S Premier Bus Services 81
M/S Baloch Bus Services 24
M/SChatta Bus Services 40
M/S Monolite Bus Services 40

Total 510
Multan
M/S New Khan Metro 81
Faisalabad
M/S Minthar Metro Bus 40
M/S Bashir Sons 40
Faisalabad Total 80
Rawalpindi
Islamabad
M/S Varan Tours 15

This Scheme in Rawalpindi/Islamabad

Under this scheme Varan Tours starts in 1997 and added 115 buses to the transit fleet in twin city. The mid-
income working class has welcomed courteous and efficient transit service by franchisers.
Similarly, mid-income senior citizens, who need assistance also benefited from franchised transit. But the
service was too limited in twin city as compare to other cities of Punjab. Table 1 shows the comparison of service
between different cities of Punjab.
In February, 2005 this service was closed due to the public anger on fatal accidents. Now this service
is again started in November, 2008 but on very limited scale of just 15 buses.
This shows that the transportation problems of twin city are not solved by this scheme.

Our Survey Outcome

We have conducted a survey, by filling out questionnaire from students, employees and general
public who travel in public transport of Rawalpindi/Islamabad.

Satisfied by the current Transport System

Yes No Up-to Some extent
13 26 11

22%
Yes

No
52%
Up-to Some
26% extent

Fulfill the requirements of public

Yes No
14 36
40
35
30
25
20 Yes
15 No
10
5
0
Yes No

Easy Availability at any time

Yes No
16 34
 35
30
25
20
Yes
15
No
10
5
0
Yes No

Authorities Regulating Transport are working Properly

Yes No
08 42
50

40

30
Yes
20 No
10

0
Yes No

Behavior of transporter with public

Very Good Normal Not Good Worse
0 32 13 5

Worse 5

Not Good 13

Normal 32

Very Good 0

0 10 20 30 40

Reach on destination at proper time

Out 10 Times
10 7-9 times 4-6 Less than 4
07 15 20 08
 Less than
4 10
16% 14%

7-9Times
30%
4-6 Times
40%

Environment in public transport

Very Good Normal Not Good Worse

01 24 25 0

Very Good
Norm al
Not Good
Worse

Obey traffic rules

Yes No
21 29
 30
25
20
15 Yes
10 No

5
0
Yes No

Facilities for Disabled and senior citizens

Very Good Normal Not Good Worse

02 17 19 12

Very Good
Normal
Not Good
Worse

Route Maps
Good & According to need of Sufficient Should be resigned
passengers
04 26 20
 Good & According
4 to need of
passengers
20 Sufficient

26
Should be
resigned

Proper Completion

Yes No
20 30

30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Yes No

Reasonable Fare System

Yes No
08 42

16%

Yes
No

84%

Varan is sufficient for future requirements

Yes No
22 28
 No 28

Yes 22

0 10 20 30

Satisfactory progress of Varan

Yes No
32 18

Yes
No

Avenues, overheads, underpasses and express ways are the best Solution
Yes No
39 11

No
22%

Yes
78%

Suitable Mode of Transportation

Train Buses Mini buses/Hiace's
9 15 26
 18%
Train

Buses
52%

30% Mini
buses/Hiace's

Fare Concession for students

Yes No
40 10

No
10

Yes
40

0 20 40 60

Implemented and control of system

Government Semi-government private
12 17 21

private

private
Semi-
government Sem i-governm ent
Governm ent

Government

0 5 10 15 20 25
 VARAN
"Varan" is the only MTS bus service implemented in twin city in 1997 by that time chief minister of
Punjab Shehbaz Sharif. The start of Varan bus service was a good idea and it had helped overcome
the transport problem to great extent. Passengers of twin city fell some satisfaction relating to their
transport problem. The local transporters termed it a growing threat to their business and resisted its
expansion after which the service was terminated in February,2005 after public anger at fatal
accidents and litigation by private transporters. Varan buses return to the roads of Rawalpindi and
Islamabad on November 2008, some 40 months Though Varan has again started its service in
Rawalpindi but due to shortage of buses it has not expanded it to other routes of the twin city. As
the bus company would ply its large-capacity vehicles first on five major routes in the twin cities and
on all routes at a later stage.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif inaugurating the service again.

Ms Uzma Gul, chairperson of Varan, alleged on the occasion that former railway minister Sheikh
Rashid Ahmed forced Varan’s hands to close its service.

Varan appears to a good service for the public of twin city as

providing separate seats for special persons, one-third of the seats in the new buses would be
reserved for women passengers. Varan buses would stop at each bus stop for one minute and the
staff has instructions to be polite to the passengers.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif lauded the services of Varan Tours in the past saying that school and
college going students, ladies and office workers were benefiting from its services.

Elevated Expressway project

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is likely to perform groundbreaking of the Rs 10 billion
Elevated Expressway project on October 24, 2008. An RDA (Rawalpindi Development Authority)
official said all necessary arrangements had been made for the start of work on the three-year project,
which was aimed at reducing traffic congestion on Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Road, previously known
as Murree Road, between the Mall and Faizabad.

NESPAK (National Engineering Services of Pakistan) had prepared geometric design of the
Elevated Expressway and had done its topographic survey.

RDA had made elaborate arrangements for managing Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Road traffic following
the start of work on the expressway.
The proposed expressway will have six lanes and four interchanges for it will be constructed at
Mareer Chowk, Chandani Chowk, 6th Road and Shamsabad.

It is expected that once the expressway was opened to traffic, motorists would be able to cover a
distance of around 25 kilometers in less than 10 to 15 minutes between the Mall and Faizabad.

RDA had set 36 months time frame for construction of the expressway patch between Mareer
Chowk and Chandni Chowk and 46 months for the rest of the work.

Recommendations
Not all transportation problems in Rawalpindi/Islamabad were caused by inefficient transit
systems. The imbalance , which is caused by concentration of government jobs in Islamabad
and affordable housing in Rawalpindi, will continue to pose additional challenges. Along with
improving transit services, the government should also focus on eliminating the land use imbalance.
This can be achieved by creating high-density, affordable housing in Islamabad in areas
conducive for transit operations and by strategically locating employment nodes in
Rawalpindi to eliminate the need for workers to commute long distances.

The largest employer in Rawalpindi is the Pakistan Armed Forces. In the next five years,
The General Headquarters and the related are scheduled to relocate in Islamabad. This move is
likely to exacerbate the land use imbalance in Rawalpindi/Islamabad.

The exemption from import duties for buses could also adversely impact the budding bus
manufacturing industry in Pakistan. According to the Pakistan Automotive
Manufacturers Association, the installed capacity for bus production in Pakistan is around
1900 buses per year. The government of Pakistan should adjust tariffs and duties to strengthen
up-and-coming manufacturing niche in the country.

Conclusions
Franchised urban transit has the capacity to improve mobility in Twin.Franchised transit can
offer safe, courteous, reliable and efficient transit service that has not been offered by
private transit operators in RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD in the past two decades. Franchised
transit comes at a high price to the end users. The high fares of franchised might reduce the
accessibility of low-income households in RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD. It is critical that the
impact of the fare hike on low-income households should be evaluated at the earliest.
The government
should subsidise low-income households to ensure equity. Similarly, the government should
provide vocational training to those transit operators who have lost livelihoods because of
franchised transit. Their transition into new careers should be preferred over assigning them non-
franchised routes, which will simply move poor transit service to a different jurisdiction.

There is an urgent need of capacity building in urban/transport planning in Pakistan.

Similarly, travel behaviour data do not exist for any metropolitan area in Pakistan. Efficient
transportation planning requires data. Almost all investment decisions in
transport sector in Pakistan are based on crystal ball forecasting. This could only change
if regular travel behaviour surveys are instituted in metropolitan areas in Pakistan. This
is to be accompanied by training of planners and engineers in transport planning.
Name (optional): .
Gender: .
Occupation:  Student  Employee  Other

Part 1
Q1: Are you satisfied by the current transport system implemented in
Rawalpindi/Islamabad?
 Yes  No  Up to some extent

Q2: Does this system meet the current requirements of public?

 Yes  No

Q3: In your observation, public transport is easily available at any time?

 Yes  No

Q4: Authorities regulating the transport system are working properly?

 Yes  No

Q5: Behavior of the Transporters with the public in your opinion is?
 Very good  Normal  Not Good  Worse

Q6: By using the local transport 10 times, how many times you can reach your
destination on time?
 10 Times  7-9 Times  4-6 Times  Less than 4 Times

Q7: Environment in the public transport?

 Very good  Normal  Not Good  Worse

Q8: In your opinion the current transporters obey the traffic rules?
 Yes  No

Q9: Facilities for disabled and senior citizens are?

 Very good  Normal  Not Good  Worse

Q10: What do think about Current routs maps?

 Good and according to need of passengers
 Sufficient
 should be re-designed

Q11: Current transporters complete their routs properly?

 Yes  No

Q12: Do you think that the fare system is reasonable and regulated properly?
 Yes  No
Q13: Varan is sufficient for our future transport requirements?
 Yes  No

Q14: Are you satisfied by the progress of Varan?

 Yes  No

Q15: According to your observation, avenues, overheads, underpasses and express

ways are the best solution of all the problems?
 Yes  No

Part 2

If new Transportation system is introduced

Q16: In your opinion, what is the most suitable mode of transportation implemented
in Rawalpindi & Islamabad?
 Trains  Buses  Mini-Buses/Hiace's
If Other, Explain .

Q17: Do you think that concession in the fare should be provided to the students?
 Yes  No

Q18: The nature of the system implemented and controlled?

 Government  Semi Government  Private

• Remarks: