Revolutionizing Urban Transportation: The Role of Metro Bus Service in Mitigating Carbon Emissions in Islamabad-Rawalpindi Region

Abstract

Transport sector of any economy is considered as a vital economic factor as almost every individual is highly dependent on transport for having access to their destinations such as educational institutes, offices and other places. Due to increased demand for transportation, congestion problems are also increasing manifolds. This traffic congestion further causes increased atmospheric pollution. In order to control this environmental problem related to road congestion, the capital city of Pakistan; Islamabad with its twin city Rawalpindi launched a metro bus service with an aim to facilitate the commuters of twin cities from traffic blockage and air pollution. The target of the paper is to find out the carbon emissions reduced after the initiation of bus rapid transit in the region. Apart from other benefits associated with Metro Bus Service, one of the major benefits received from Metro Bus Service is that with its launch in cities overall air quality is improved as it has replaced approximately 700 public vehicles from the existing track, which results in the reduction of around 8000 metric tons of carbon emissions from the region.