Peshawar, Pakistan
Gender-Inclusive Bus Corridor to Relax Congestion
500K people are expected to benefit from the BRT corridor
Inhabitants 1.97 million GDP per capita $1,580 Geographic area 215 km²
THE CHALLENGE Peshawar has one of the country’s most congested transport systems, which affects traffic congestion and raises the risk of harassment for women. The city hopes that its new safe and inclusive BRT corridor will address these issues.
In an effort to improve air quality, reduce emissions, and relax traffic congestion, Peshawar is constructing a 26-kilometer east– west BRT corridor with gender-inclusive initiatives at the core. Peshawar is Pakistan’s sixth-largest city with 1.97 million citizens, but has one of the country’s most congested transport systems. Getting from the residential district of Chamkani on the east of the city, through the center, and to Hayatabad can take well over an hour in rush hour, with average speeds of just 11 km per hour. One way to reduce congested roads is to improve public transport options, therefore the city is installing 26 km of BRT lanes, with 31 stations, park-andride facilities, bicycle lanes, and green areas helping to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion. The buses will be diesel–electric hybrids, allowing lower emissions and cleaner air compared with individual car transport. The project will also establish universal access and safety features in all stations, including enhanced lighting, closed-circuit television monitoring, segregated areas for women, and staff trained to deal with harassment incidents. The project was funded through a $335 million loan from ADB as well as with contributions from the Agence Française de Développement.
Co-benefits Social The project hopes to encourage women’s meaningful participation by ensuring that 10% of BRT operations employees are women. Health By encouraging commuters to switch to public transportation from private means, air quality can be improved due to the decrease in air pollutants. Environmental A pilot program creating bicycle parking will be incorporated to encourage commuters to include bicycles as their first- and last-mile connectivity to the BRT.
Peshawar’s new BRT corridor. Partly commissioned in August 2020, the BRT’s construction is expected to be fully completed in 2021 (photo by ADB).
URBAN TRANSPORT AND MOBILITY 47
