Islamabad Electric Bus Fare Hiked from Rs. 50 to Rs. 100, Effective June 1st
Islamabad: Commuters in Islamabad are facing a significant increase in public transport costs as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has doubled the fare for its electric bus services from Rs. 50 to Rs. 100 per ride. The new fare structure, which applies to the Orange, Green, and Blue lines, and all electric feeder routes, came into effect on Sunday, June 1, 2025.
The fare hike impacts all 17 routes covered by the feeder metro and electric bus services, affecting approximately 85,000 to 90,000 daily commuters who rely on these services for affordable transportation. This sudden 100% increase has drawn widespread concern, particularly from students, daily wage earners, and low-income families.
The CDA has justified the decision by citing rising operational costs and a reduction in government subsidies. Previously, the government covered 50% of the operational expenses through subsidies, which has now been reduced to 30%. Despite the fare increase, the CDA states it will still bear an annual subsidy burden, albeit reduced from Rs. 3.66 billion to an estimated Rs. 2.79 billion. Revenue is expected to increase from Rs. 1.46 billion to Rs. 2.33 billion with the revised fares.
CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa defended the move, emphasizing that the goal is to maintain reliable, eco-friendly transport and ensure the continued provision of comfortable, accessible, and air-conditioned services. He also stated that special concessional packages, including discounted daily, weekly, and monthly travel passes, are being planned for office workers, students, and senior citizens, along with the introduction of bus cards for regular riders.
This is the second attempt by the CDA to increase fares, with a similar decision planned for May 26th that was withdrawn due to public backlash. However, the revised fares have now been implemented without any rollback.
While the CDA aims to expand its electric bus fleet and improve the city’s transport infrastructure, the immediate impact of the fare hike is a heavier financial burden on daily commuters. Concerns have also been raised about the current operational capacity, as only around 120 of the CDA’s 160 electric buses are currently running due to limited charging facilities, though a new charging depot at Zero Point is under construction to address this. The CDA has also announced that complete information about electric bus routes, stations, and schedules will soon be available on Google Maps to assist passengers.
