The transport problem in Lahore is becoming serious by the day, and so is the quality of air in the city. Substandard vehicles routinely ply on city roads, causing an increase in pollution as well as accidents. The need of the hour is an efficient public transport system. The recent approval of a project to introduce electric buses in Lahore is, therefore, a step in the right direction. Only, it should have happened long before.

The Green Bus Service, thus named, is expected to bring the city’s traffic system out of gridlock besides playing a positive role in saving the environment, a direct benefit associated with the shift from conventional diesel buses. For the project, the government will seek financial help from the World Bank.

Earlier, the previous provincial government invested heavily in upgrading road infrastructure and introduced Metro Bus Service, CNG buses and started the mega Orange Line Metro Train project. Stringent rules and regulations were also made to meet the emission standards.

It has already been proved that electric buses, in comparison with the conventional diesel as well as CNG-fuelled buses, are better in several ways. They are environment friendly, produce less noise and are also better in terms of energy consumption. Statistics collected from different international forums reveal that the global market for electric buses is estimated to grow significantly over the next 10 to 15 years. According to the World Economic Forum, Jakarta boasts the largest bus system across the globe and the Indonesian government is also planning to replace conventional buses with electric ones in the country’s capital. Similarly, over 70,000 electric buses are said to be plying in different cities in India.

Shehzad Rafique, an automobile engineer, tells TNS that one of the most popular types of electric buses are battery operated. “These [battery operated electric buses] store electricity in their battery,” he says. “An electric bus can take you a distance of over 250 km with a one-time charge; however, extreme temperatures and hilly terrains may cause reduction in range. That is why they are usually used as a city transportation solution around the world.”

According to Rafique, electric buses also have certain issues which should be discussed by the stakeholders before launching the vehicles. “The primary problems are the cost and safety concerns. For instance, there is the fire hazard. Enforcement of rigorous SOPs is needed to avoid such issues.

“An electric bus can take you a distance of over 250 km with a one-time charge; however, extreme temperatures and hilly terrains may cause a reduction in range. That is why they are usually used as a city transportation solution around the world.”

“Electric buses have been deployed on a large scale globally, and the technology is evolving continuously.”

Initially, a fleet of 100 buses will be launched in Lahore and Faisalabad (50 in each city). The project will receive technical support from the Ministry of Science and Technology and a $20 million loan from the World Bank.

Transport Minister Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan Khichi says that work on the Green Bus Service is under way: “To complete the project at the earliest, the Punjab government is in constant touch with the Ministry of Science and Technology,” he says, adding that the projects started by the previous government in public transport sector “cost a subsidy of billions of rupees annually. Despite that, the problem of transportation has remained acute.”

Recently, the Punjab chief minister also announced that Lahore Transport Company (LTC) would be transformed into the Punjab Transport Company (PTC), which would supervise an efficient transportation system under a public-private partnership.

The private companies will be responsible for running the buses, while the PTC will be in charge of ticketing, security and other matters.

The company shall start recruiting transport sub-inspectors and other staff soon, the CM said.

According to Khichi, the citizens are “paying high fares for substandard and unsafe transport services. We are trying to provide a low-cost, standard, safe and environment-friendly transport service to the people.”

Most civil society members have welcomed the government’s decision to introduce electric buses in the provincial metropolis. They have urged the government to make it mandatory for private transporters to replace their diesel buses with the electric ones.

The writer is a senior reporter at The News