Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to raise the fares for the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system by Rs 5 to Rs 10. This move comes as the service faces an annual deficit exceeding Rs 3 billion.
To address this financial shortfall, the provincial budget has allocated a subsidy of Rs 3 billion for the BRT. A meeting, chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Finance Advisor, Muzammil Aslam, was held to discuss strategies to reduce expenses and increase revenue for the BRT. One of the primary resolutions from this meeting was the fare hike, which will be presented to the TransPeshawar Board for final approval.
Advisor Aslam also expressed dissatisfaction with the low rental rates of shops located within BRT stations, which are currently rented at Rs 6,000 per month. He directed officials to set a minimum rental rate of Rs 100 per square foot. Additionally, he instructed the preparation of a plan to lease three commercial plazas and urged the reorganization of the TransPeshawar operational plan to achieve savings of Rs 2 billion.
Another significant measure discussed was the introduction of a Rs 150 unlimited daily travel pass for general passengers, with a reduced rate of Rs 100 for women, students, transgender individuals, and senior citizens. This initiative aims to make public transport more accessible while also increasing the system’s revenue.
The meeting also highlighted that Rs 1 from each passenger’s fare would be allocated to TransPeshawar’s operational costs. In an interview with Geo News, Muzammil Aslam emphasized that the fare increase is unavoidable, stressing that the final decision will be made by the TransPeshawar Board.