PESHAWAR: The PTI-era Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project is facing a financial shortfall, prompting proposals for a fare increase in Peshawar to cover the gap.
The KP Urban Mobility Authority has provided the provincial government with a summary of its recommendations.
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The first proposal calls for a fare increase of 5 to 20 rupees, with an estimated annual income of 1 billion 36 crore 33 lakh rupees. The second proposal calls for a fare increase of Rs 5 to Rs 10, generating an annual income of Rs 672.1 million.
Despite rising oil prices, BRT fares have remained constant, resulting in substantial provincial government subsidies. The proposed fare increase is intended to relieve the government of this burden.
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Along with the fare increase, the document suggests looking into other options, such as increasing express route bus fares by Rs 10 to Rs 20. Currently, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is subsidizing the BRT Peshawar project with over 3 billion rupees per year.
It is worth noting that BRT fares were previously raised by Rs 5 in June 2023. The project’s financial challenges highlight the complexities of sustaining large-scale infrastructure initiatives.
