ISLAMABAD: Sans taking the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on board, the Punjab Metro Bus Authority (PMBA) has signed three service agreements with private firms for an automatic fare collection system, security and surveillance systems, and bus operations.
The CDA had recently refused to sign the eight-year operational contract for the project, citing low revenue and high operation and maintenance costs, sources said.
They added Interactive, private firm, has been awarded the contract for security and surveillance of the project at Rs250 million per annum while a fare collection contract has been signed with private firm Inbox for Rs500 million per annum. The firm is also a partner of the Punjab government in its laptop scheme. Likewise, the bus operation contract was signed with Turkish company Al-Bairak. As per estimates, around 80,000 people would use the buses every day, paying a flat Rs20 for a one-way trip.
