- The Punjab interim government approved fare increases for the Orange Line train and Multan metro bus.
- A five-rupee fare hike was approved for the Orange Line Metro Train, Multan metro bus, and feeder bus fares.
- Lahore and Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus services will not be affected by the fare adjustment.
Media reports indicate that the fare for the Orange Line Metro Train project will increase by five rupees. Similarly, a five-rupee raise has been authorized for Multan metro bus fares. Additionally, the caretaker Punjab government has given the green light for a five-rupee hike in feeder bus fares.
The fare increase is attributed to the recent rise in fuel prices. The Punjab Mass Transit Authority expects an annual income boost of Rs. 82.85 million from the additional fare revenue. However, fares for Lahore and Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus services will not be impacted by this charge.
Earlier, caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi had turned down a proposal for a Rs. 15 fare hike in Metrobus and Speedobus services. Naqvi emphasized the importance of innovative revenue-generating approaches and directed resources towards the construction and maintenance of metrobus tracks in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
Additionally, Naqvi provisionally approved the introduction of electric buses at Lahore Railway Station and Tagrin Town, with 27 electric buses planned to operate in Lahore as part of a pilot project supported by the World Bank. The Punjab government has also made the decision to introduce electric buses for the Islamabad-Rawalpindi metro bus service. At a meeting of the Punjab Mass Transit Authority, a proposal to deploy diesel hybrid regenerative buses was also discussed.
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To tackle the shortage of human resources within the Punjab Mass Transit Authority, Naqvi directed immediate action to resolve the issue, reaffirming the government's dedication to offering quality and safe travel services to the public.
