Islamabad Bus Stops Are Finally Getting a Real Upgrade

Good news if you wait for a bus in Islamabad. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has started fixing up the city’s bus stops. These won’t just be metal shelters anymore. They’re adding things people actually need.

What’s coming to the new stops

• Free WiFi (yes, you read that right)

• Mobile charging points

• Bright backlit boards so you can read the route at night

• Proper cycle stands if you ride a bike to the stop

• Staff to help you open a digital wallet on the spot

You’ll be able to charge your phone, scroll TikTok, park your bicycle safely, and still catch the bus without running across the road in the dark.

Work has already started

CDA teams are out measuring and pouring concrete at a few locations. Photos from F-7, F-8 and Blue Area are already doing the rounds on local WhatsApp groups. The shelters look bigger and cleaner than the old rusty ones that bend every time a truck passes.

When will my stop get fixed?

That’s the part nobody knows yet. CDA hasn’t said how many stops are in the first phase or given any dates. They just said “work is underway” and “phase-wise ho ga.” Translation: don’t hold your breath for your street tomorrow morning.

Why it matters

Half the people who take the bus are students and daily-wage workers. Many reach the stop with dead phones and no idea when the next bus is coming. A charging point and WiFi can turn a 40-minute wait into something bearable. And if someone helps aunties and uncles open a jazzcash or easypaisa account right there, they don’t have to walk an extra kilometre to an agent.

The small things that make a big difference

The backlit panels sound basic, but anyone who has stood at G-9 or I-10 markaz after Maghrib knows the struggle of guessing which bus is coming. A bright sign ends that game.

Cycle stands are another quiet win. More people are riding bikes these days because petrol is expensive. Giving them a safe place to lock the bike might convince even more to leave the car at home.

What we still need to hear

• Exact list of stops in phase one

• Who is paying for the free WiFi and electricity

• Whether the digital wallet desk will stay open all day or just a few hours

• How will they stop the charging stations from getting stolen in week one

Until CDA answers these, enjoy the photos and keep an eye on your local stop.

Bottom line

Islamabad’s bus stops have been an embarrassment for years. Broken benches, no shade, no light, no information. Finally, someone is doing something about it. The upgrades are simple, cheap, and actually useful. If they finish even half the stops this year, getting around the city without a car will feel less painful.

For more updates, visit DrivePK.com