Bus Rapid Transit System Peshawar

BRT Peshawar | ZU Peshawar | Metro Bus Peshawar

Transportation in Pakistan is wide and diverse. With a population of over 212.2 million, it is very important to provide comfortable transportation so that people can easily make their daily journeys.

In 2013, the KP government requested technical support from the Urban Development Initiative for Asia to develop Peshawar’s disordered, mismanaged, and ramshackle urban transport network. In 2017, the CDIA completed the Urban Transport Pre-Feasibility Report with a 10-year Action Plan, which developed a 20-year Urban Transport Plan. The CDIA planned two corridors, an east-west corridor and a north-south corridor, and suggested that the first east-west corridor be built along the Grand Trunk Road along the east-west axis of Peshawar. Construction of the project, under the PDA, started in 2017 and was approved by the Peshawar Development Authority.

Zu Peshawar is the name of the BRT System in Peshawar. The name Zu was chosen because it means “Let’s go, Peshawar!” in Pushto. The logo clearly references the petals of a flower, relating it to Peshawar, known as “the city of flowers.” The colors—maroon and green—represent human warmth and the idea of an environmentally friendly system.

Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit is a bus rapid transit system in Peshawar, the capital of KPK province. The BRT system consists of two parts: the first covers an east-west corridor served by 32 locations on a dedicated track for private bus use, while the second part consists of a network of feeder routes in which buses can pass and exit from the city streets. The system was inaugurated on August 13, 2020, and is the fourth BRT system in Pakistan.

What are the Benefits of introducing a BRT System in Peshawar?

Several cities throughout the world have introduced a BRT System into the fabric of the city and have seen the following benefits:

• Reduced travel times for users of public transport;
• Safer and a more comfortable means of travel;
• Reduced vehicle emissions; improving the environment
• More reliable journey times for users;
• More friendly means of travel for women and children;
• Will allow for an improved environment for passengers with limited mobility;
• Improve land values along the BRT Corridor and promote economic development; and
• Enhance the city’s outlook and reputation.

BRT Bus Features and Standards:

TransPeshawar planned to use a fleet of 255 buses, of which 155 will be 12-meter-long buses, while 65 will be 18-meter-long articulated buses. The articulated buses will run only within the Service route, while the 12-meter-long buses will run mainly within the Feeder system. Buses arrive every 3 minutes throughout peak hours and every 5 minutes during non-peak hours.

• 26 Kilometer Main Corridor
• 15 KM at Grade
• 8 KM Flyover
• 3 KM Underpass
• 31 Stations
• distance between station 850m
• 3 Bus Depots (Should be represented in infographics at Chamkani, Hayatabad, and Dabgari)
• 3 Park and Ride Facility
• Bicycle lane
• Complete revamp of Footpaths
• Secure
• Efficient
• Fast Journey
• Comfortable
• Reliable
• Cost-effective
• 3rd Generation
• 8 Feeder routes

Zu Peshawar has 30 stations, 220 buses, 360 bicycles, and 32 bicycle stations.

You can easily pass through the bus door at a time, and there is a slide facility at the doors, especially for people with disabilities to get in and out of the bus in a wheelchair, which is usually found in very few buses and has many facilities.

• Wi-Fi access
• USB-ports
• Air Conditioner System
• Woman Area
• Reserved seats for the elderly and people with disabilities
• Wheelchair access
• Comfortable seats
• Mobile Application for real-time information
• Pay fare via mobile app / online
• Bicycles for last-mile connectivity

The buses are diesel-electric plug-in hybrids, which improve overall fuel economy, lower smoke emissions, and allow charging stations to recharge batteries. All buses are environmentally friendly and aim to reduce emissions and pollution in Peshawar. BRT has the most expensive luxury buses with comfortable seats for passengers to travel restfully and enjoy a pleasant journey. Mobile charging ports are available on the bus so the passenger can charge his mobile when needed.

One of the major benefits of the project they are currently working on is that the bus service will open a large shopping mall at each of its main stations.

The advantage is that no one will have to leave the station to buy anything. Everything will be available at this mall. People get off at the bus station to do shopping, buy things, etc., and then get on the bus again to Go home.

The first phase of Trans Peshawar consists of the East-West Bus, which runs from Chamkani in the east to Karkhano Bazaar in the western part of Peshawar. Feeder routes allow buses to enter/exit the system from city roads through mixed traffic.

BRT Peshawar Stations:

TransPeshawar has 32 stations passing tracks, allowing the purpose of a “direct service” system in which buses from residential areas can access TransPeshawar’s dedicated bus lanes as an express service directly to the city’s center. Each station is, on average, 850 meters from the previous station, with an estimated travel time of 2 minutes between head-to-head stations. Its main stations are Chamkani, Sethi Town, Hashtnagri, Bala Hissar Fort, Railway station, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Islamia College, Tatara Park, Cancer Hospital, and Karkhano are the top-notch list. All the station points are given below.

1. Chamkani
2. Chughal Pura
3. Zareef Memorial School
4. Sethi Town
5. Bhatti Chowk
6. Sikandar Town
7. Gulbahar Square
8. Hashtnagri
9. Janazgah
10. Bala Hissar Fort (Phase 1, Phase 2)
11. Hospital Road
12. Khyber Bazaar
13. Soekarno Square Secretariat
14. Dabgari Gardens
15. Railway Station Mainline rail interchange
16. State Bank of Pakistan
17. Saddar Bazaar
18. Mall Road
19. Khyber Road Airport
20. Gora Qabristan
21. Tehkal
22. Tambuwaan
23. Abdara Road
24. University Town (Phase 2, Phase 3)
25. Khyber Teaching Hospital
26. Islamia College
27. Board Bazar Regi
28. Hayatabad Model School (Hayatabad Phase 3)
29. Tatara Park
30. PDA Hayatabad
31. Cancer Hospital
32. Karkhano
33. Industrial Estate

By the way, private vehicles are not allowed on the BRT route, but in case of emergency, ambulances can pass through there, which can help save a patient’s life.

BRT Peshawar Fares:

Fares are collected via an automated ticketing system intended for use on all city routes. Passengers can also get tickets in cash, whereas passengers traveling on this bus can also avail of the facility of a Card, in which they can pay the fare of their ticket with a card by debiting the amount on the card from time to time.

On typical buses in Peshawar, bus operators collect fares. However, with the implementation of the automated ticketing system, TransPeshawar bus operators will not collect fares. Fares are Reasonable: the minimum fare for a ticket will be 10 Rupees, whereas the highest ticket fare will be 50 Rupees, depending on the traveling stations.

The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has announced that Peshawar BRT’s ticket prices will range between a minimum of PKR 10 and a maximum of PKR 50, depending on the distance traveled by each passenger. Check out the fare table below for details:

Distance Traveled by Kilometers and Fare in PKR.

• 1 to 5   =10
• 1 to 10   =15
• 1 to 15   =20
• 1 to 20   =25
• 1 to 25   =30
• 1 to 30   =35
• 1 to 35   =40
• 1 to 40   =45
• 1 Or more =50

The BRT fare will be payable via the ZU Mobile App and Zu Card. While the app is downloadable free of cost from the Google Play Store or the iOS App Store and will require registration, the Zu Card will be available at ticketing booths in the stations for PKR 150 and will not require registration. The balance or Zu Card has no expiry. The same Zu Card works both on Zu Buses and Bicycles. However, for Bicycles, passengers are required to activate their card.

The app will allow digital payment methods, and the card can be topped up with the amount you choose to travel through town. You can also buy a one-way ticket at any station that fits your destination.

 Check Fares for Bus Services

BRT Peshawar TIMINGS:

Zu Peshawar will operate 16 hours a day, from 6 AM to 10 PM, seven days a week. For more details, please see the service hours. The Peshawar BRT buses will travel between Chamkani and Hayatabad in 45 minutes.

ZU Card:

Zu Card is used to pay the fare to travel on the bus, and you can recharge/top up your Zu Card at Zu Ticketing booths at stations. Ticket vending machines at Zu stations. The online banking system and accessible paisa /Jazz Cash franchises. The validator will show the negative fare and raise a beef sound if you don’t have enough balance on a ZU card. You will not be allowed to leave BRT stations till the time the fare is not paid. It’s mandatory to tap Zu Card both at exit and entry; otherwise, a maximum of the fare will be charged. Failure to tap the Zu card in Bicycle docking will block the card. Passengers need to unblock their ZU card at Kiosk.

You are advised to take care of your Zu Card. There is no refund if the Zu Card is stolen or lost. Balance can be transferred for cards that are registered against NIC. Suppose a ZU card is inoperable due to a technical fault. In that case, the staff at the ticket office shall replace the faulty ZU Card free of charge, transfer the stored value balance, if any, to a new card, and return it to you within a maximum of five working days. You can also return a broken card at Zu Station and purchase a new one. If there is an existing balance in the broken card, it will be transferred to your new card.

ZU APPS:

Download ZU Android APP: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lmkt.zupeshawar

Download ZU App for IOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zu-peshawar/id1532389509

How to Travel From One Station to Another Station?

The procedure for traveling by bus is to go to the station if you are on a bike or car. Parking facilities are available at Chamkani stations, Dabgari, and Mall of Hayatabad. Park your vehicle at the station.

Buy a ticket from the staff counter or get a free ZU Card from the counter and a Ticket from the Vending Machine. When you get a Free ZU Card, that is a Top-up of Rs 100/—. The fare deducted will be displayed at fare validators (machines on which you tap your card to enter/exit the system or pay your fare). Also, passengers can view the history of deducted fares on the website Ticket Machine and via the Zu app.

One person can get only one free ZU Card. You can also make a payment through the ZU Mobile App.

The BRT design proposes using smart cards for fare payment methods. TransPeshawar should invest in producing these cards and sell them to passengers free of cost initially for six months.
After six months, passengers will have to pay an extra Rs100 for the card. Trans Peshawar will also maintain the passengers’ database with smart cards.

You get the one-way Journey Ticket, which is only available at BRT Stations. You must scan your ZU card at Fare Media before and after entering the bus. Use travel guidance or a map for bus routes, stations, etc. It is forbidden to take any food on the bus. Eating or throwing special snuff is strictly prohibited.

The bus has announcements in three languages (English, Urdu, and Pashto) that inform you about the stations and where and at which station the bus has reached, making it very easy for you to get to your destination.

The card can also be used to buy tickets again, which will help you avoid queuing.

Related: Red Bus Karachi

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions: