Pakistan

Nation’s first double-decker bus service to come to Lahore

Nation’s first double-decker bus service for tourists soon

Imran Adnan September 15, 2015

The TDCP has procured two custom-made Volvo buses. PHOTO: TDCP

LAHORE: The Tourism Development Corporation of the Punjab (TDCP) is all set to introduce the nation’s first double-decker bus service for tourists in the city under the name of Sightseeing Lahore.

Managing Director Ahmar Malik told The Express Tribune on Tuesday that two custom-made Volvo buses procured by the corporation for a sum of $376,000 were expected to reach Karachi on September 20. Malik said the service would commence in the middle of October after the buses had arrived in the city between October 9 and 10.

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He said the route of the service had not been finalised. Malik said the buses were expected to ferry tourists between the Walled City and Gaddafi Stadium after obtaining the approval of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. He said the corporation was building terminals in both locales in the projects first phase. Malik said more terminals would be built after the introduction of more routes and induction of more buses.

The MD said one terminal was being built near Punjab Stadium while the other was being constructed in the vicinity of the Fort Road Food Street. He said a myriad of eateries and sites of interest were situated in the areas. Malik said the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) had agreed to cooperate with the PTDC over the initiative. He said the authority would provide a tonga, rickshaw and guide service at the Fort Road Food Street to showcase the city’s heritage. Malik said tourists would have the opportunity to sample Pakistani cuisine at one of the many eateries in Gaddafi Stadium and shop in the many commercial areas nearby including Liberty Market. Malik said the PTDC had examined the standards of similar services in cities like Budapest, Dubai and London across major international tourism conventions. He said each bus could accommodate 67 passengers. Malik said the vehicles would be equipped with a public address system that would allow guides to make tourists aware of the city’s history and places of interest along the route. He said the PTDC would later install LED screens in the buses to screen films regarding Lahore’s culture, art and heritage. He said the corporation intended to run the service in the evening during summer. Malik said the PTDC would increase its frequency in the winter.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2015.

COMMENTS (20)

Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Looks just like the tourist double decker buses plying tourist circuits all over the world. Tourists immediately recognize these double decker tour buses wherever they go. I'm glad we will have it in lahore too.

Mahesh | 8 years ago | Reply Kolkata had double deckers 20 years back.

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Humza | 8 years ago | Reply @Shakil Ahmed Khan: It's not just Lahore but all of Punjab's cities which have seen improvement. Go to Sialkot, Faisalabad or Rawalipindi if you don't believe it! That's why Punjab is developing and remains so stable. @London Banker: You can't me much of a banker if you don't understand how much money this service will make and pay dividends in the form of tourism. Lahore has been enjoying a great influx of visitors who all sing its praises. Now even more will come and spend money in this cultural gem of Pakistan with these new tour double deckers!

Aam Admi Bechara | 8 years ago | Reply In Karachi the sindhi rulers of Karachi (read marauders) have given Karachi the "gift" of Qingi rickshaws, a dependable source of bhatta for them after scaring away the Japanese who offered to rebuild Karachi Circular Railway at 0% interest but wanted to keep the financials under them to save them from sindhis.

London Banker | 8 years ago | Reply Oh my lord @ the cost.

smartObserver | 8 years ago | Reply I would really be delighted to see this thing running in Karachi, which is a mega city and is in a dire need of state of the art public transportation system. Anyway, good job Punjab Govt.

Faheem | 8 years ago | Reply Ohhh common.... for heaven's sake. its not the first double Decker service we probably be seeing in Lahore soon. I can still remember the double Decker buses running on Ferozpur Road back in 2003-04. And guess what they had there engine door open all the time to avoid heating up. And yes they were red too....

Farooq | 8 years ago | Reply I think we should not be harsh to the reporter of this story ...Whereas the double decker buses did ply in lahore in sixties and early seventies The fact remains and to be appreciated is that it is for first time that such buses will be used for sightseeing after retrofitting and customisation .It is a good begining and TDCP deserves kudos for making a begining

Farid chaudhry | 8 years ago | Reply Sir this not the first Double decker bus service in Lahore ...Once we had a LOS ... They had many double decker Buses in years 60s to 80s or early 90s ....These buses were plying on many routes in Lahore ....

Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply They should use double-decker buses for normal transportation as well...it just makes sense. In the 50's we had double-decker buses in Karachi.......and trams.

Rasheed | 8 years ago | Reply These are not passenger buses, but specialized tourist buses. They will pay off their cost through tourist income, which is not subsidized.

Shakil Ahmed Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Tourism Development Corporation of the Punjab - and its work stop in Lahore only! This should be project under city of Lahore not for TDCP! This should be run under a mayor of Lahore not run by Chief Minister of Punjab! Lahore is in Punjab, Punjab is not just Lahore! double deckers were running in Pakistan before, as other things with our beautiful democracy we stopped many services in railways, trams and double deckers that used to exist

Haider | 8 years ago | Reply $376,000, which is roughly Rs. 39222440.00 and that for only 2 buses. Instead of buying buses to promote tourism in Lahore, the government needs to spend this sum on promoting tourism. Being a frequent traveller to other parts of the world, Lahore, despite having a wonderful atmosphere and most hospitable people does not offer any substantial new tourist attractions, all thanks to our government. 1.We do have a canal with lush green surrounding but we do not have a park or tourist resort surrounding it. 2.Promoting tourism also means providing security for the tourists. 3.Hosting cricket and any other international sports events is another way to invite more tourists (believe me buses wont invite tourists). 4.Having good tourist resorts, water-parks and clubs for the tourists, while giving them freedom in exclusive areas, is another way to invite travellers. 5. Dubai is one of the largest gold markets in the world, all thanks to the laws in place to determine the purity of gold and other precious metals. 6. We don't have a food street that can meet international standards despite having numerous shopping malls. Lastly, Lahore is in Pakistan and Pakistan has a lot of scenic beauty, culture, food, adventure trips to offer.

sardarzaheer | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan used to have these buses in 60s and 70s but were later vanished due to poor administration not only this tram was also on the move

Syed Umair Javed | 8 years ago | Reply Misleading title, double decker buses operated in Lahore few decades back under the GTS.

Bewildered | 8 years ago | Reply "nation’s first double-decker bus service" The ignorance of the reporter is just bewildering. Lahore used to have double-decker bus service, then called Omnibus service, which continued to operate till late 1970s. Throughout my childhood and teenage, I had used this double-decker bus service for traveling within Lahore city. Another bewildering thing is the cost. $376,000 for 2. TDCP could have 8 lbuses in the same price if she had bought the locally assembled ones using imported engines, chassis, and parts.

hope | 8 years ago | Reply Great Step to promote tourism.

Malang Jan | 8 years ago | Reply Misleading headline - those of us old enough remember thriving double decker services on local routes in Lahore and Peshawar (don't know about the other cities!), These were very efficiently managed by the Government Transport Service - in the days when we had institutions!

Realist | 8 years ago | Reply Aaaand has anyone thought about how we'll make these buses secure from attacks, especially if foreign tourists are involved as well? Will they travel in the same way as the Zimbabwe Cricket Team did, surrounded by a legion of armed men, or will some other method be used to secure them? Because that bus just seems like one big bulls-eye to me.

iLondonize | 8 years ago | Reply Just where I thought it was going. To Londonize Lahore! Next thing will be a Big Ben in some famous square.

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