RAWALPINDI: Following the success of a women`s only transport service in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has planned to introduce a new route from the district courts to Islamabad via the Expressway.

At present, women`s public transport operates from Saddar to Islamabad and from Kohinoor Mills to Soan Bus Terminal.

Following the success of the service on these two routes, the RTA will expand the service to other routes next month.

In addition, the authority will increase the number of wagons on the two existing routes. At present, 12 wagons ply from Saddar to Islamabad.

`More than 65 per cent seats in the wagons are filled daily during normal hours, while during the office timings the vehicles have 100 per cent occupancy.

`The RTA has decided to increase the number of wagons on the Saddar-Secretariat route,` RTA Secretary Awais Manzoor Tarar told Dawn.

In response to a question about the fate of this service following the launch of Metro Bus Service, he said additional wagons would be diverted on vacant routes, and that the service would continue alongside the bus service.

Mr Manzoor said the response to the women`s only transport service had been positive, and that the RTA had received letters from citizens asking it to launch a similar service on Islamabad Expressway.

`We will launch this service from District Courts to Islamabad via Airport Road and Islamabad Expressway next month,` he said. -A Reporter