Town planners and city managers have deemed the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system for Faisalabad as impractical. They argue that the plan fails to meet key requirements such as population integration, accessibility, high ridership, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with the city’s mobility culture.
Despite these concerns, the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) is moving forward with the Rs70 billion metro bus project, which has been approved by the Punjab government. However, experts believe this project doesn’t suit Faisalabad’s current infrastructure and transportation needs.
Nadeem Khurshid, a private sector town planner, warned against launching a large-scale transit system without first establishing a foundational feeder network or robust public transportation. He emphasized that successful mass transit systems like subways or light rail need complementary services such as buses or bike-sharing programs to ensure passengers can easily access main transit lines.
Khurshid suggests that without these supporting services, the BRT system will likely face low ridership and high operational costs, making it inefficient and unsustainable. He recommends that authorities focus on improving the existing public transportation system before implementing a mass transit project.
