New Electric Bus Route from Gujar Khan to T-Chowk
The Punjab government has approved a new electric bus route that will connect Gujar Khan with the Islamabad corridor, offering a cleaner and more affordable travel option for daily commuters. According to Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Secretary Asad Shirazi, 15 electric buses will start operating next month between Gujar Khan and T-Chowk, a key entry point towards the federal capital.
The route has been formally cleared by the authorities and is part of a wider plan to extend environment-friendly public transport beyond the main urban centres. By adding Gujar Khan to the electric bus network, the government aims to ease pressure on private vans and cars that currently dominate travel on this busy stretch.
For residents of Gujar Khan and surrounding areas, the new service promises a more predictable and comfortable ride, especially for office workers, students and business travellers who regularly need to access Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Route Details: From Gujar Khan Adda to T-Chowk via Mandra
Under the approved route plan, electric buses will start their journey from Gujar Khan Adda and travel along the historic G.T. Road, passing through the Mandra stop before reaching T-Chowk. From there, buses will turn back and return to Gujar Khan, creating a two-way corridor for passengers moving between the city and the Islamabad-Rawalpindi gateway.
Running the service on G.T. Road allows the buses to serve a large number of intermediate passengers who board and disembark at different points along the route. This could reduce waiting times for public transport, cut overcrowding on existing vehicles and provide a safer option compared to informal or unregulated services.
By integrating with the larger road network at T-Chowk, the route will also make it easier for commuters to switch to other public or private transport heading into the twin cities, improving overall connectivity without requiring additional vehicles on already congested roads.
Rawalpindi’s Electric Bus Fleet Set to Grow
Asad Shirazi also shared updates on the broader electric bus project in Rawalpindi. The number of electric buses currently operating in the city is 45, but this is expected to rise to 80 in the coming months. The expansion will go ahead after the remodelling of Kutchery Chowk, an important traffic junction that is being redesigned to handle higher volumes of public transport.
Once the Kutchery Chowk works are completed, six additional electric bus routes will be launched to serve different parts of the city. This will be on top of the routes already in service, giving thousands of commuters more frequent and reliable options to move between residential, commercial and institutional areas.
The authorities hope that as coverage improves, more people will shift from private vehicles to electric buses, which can help reduce congestion, noise and air pollution on Rawalpindi’s busy roads.
New Bus Depot and a 10-Route Electric Network
To support the growing fleet, construction of a dedicated electric bus depot on Peshawar Road is nearing completion. Once the depot is ready, more buses can be added to the system and maintained in a central, well-equipped facility. This is essential for keeping vehicles charged, serviced and ready for daily operations.
In total, 10 routes have been allocated for electric buses in the Rawalpindi region. Four of these routes are already running, while the remaining six will become operational after road development work is finished at Kutchery Chowk and other key locations. The new Gujar Khan–T-Chowk link is part of this 10-route network, extending the reach of the system beyond the main city areas.
By planning infrastructure such as depots and road upgrades alongside new routes, the government is trying to ensure that the system grows in a sustainable way instead of putting extra strain on existing facilities.
What the Expansion Means for Commuters and the Environment
The expansion of electric buses between Gujar Khan, Rawalpindi and Islamabad carries benefits that go beyond shorter travel times. Electric buses produce no tailpipe emissions, making them cleaner than traditional diesel vehicles and better for local air quality. For corridor communities living along G.T. Road, this can help reduce exposure to smoke and particulate pollution.
At the same time, a reliable electric bus network can lower daily transport costs for families by offering a stable, government-regulated fare structure. With more routes and better frequency, commuters may find it easier to rely on public transport for work, education and shopping, instead of using multiple connecting rides.
If the planned routes and supporting infrastructure are delivered on schedule, Punjab’s electric bus programme could become a model for other regions looking to modernise public transport. For now, residents of Gujar Khan have a new, greener link to the twin cities to look forward to in the coming month.
