Can Public Transport Solutions Solve Peshawar’s Air Quality Crisis?

APP

Peshawar: Once known as the “City of Flowers,” Peshawar has a documented history spanning 2,500 years. Today, however, it grapples with severe air pollution and traffic congestion, posing significant health risks to its residents.

In the past, the city was celebrated for its fragrant monsoon flowers and vibrant red roses, particularly in the historic Mughal gardens of Wazir Bagh and Shalimar Gardens.

Now, this beauty is overshadowed by smoke from an influx of unregistered rickshaws, aging taxis, and outdated passenger vehicles. Air pollution is visible to the naked eye, exacerbated by numerous brick kilns operating on the city’s outskirts.

Congested areas such as Hastnagri, Firdus, Khyber Bazaar, Shoba, Tehkal, and Dabgari Garden are often engulfed in traffic, with long queues of vehicles stretching endlessly. Many commuters endure sweltering conditions while trapped in traffic chaos.

Dabgari Garden, a critical hub for medical services, has become a bottleneck, with patients in ambulances often stuck for hours. “Traffic jams have made our life miserable,” lamented Fayaz Khan, a retired PST teacher, after spending nearly two hours on a journey that should take just thirty minutes.

“My knees started to hurt from constant clutch and brake use,” he added, frustrated by the gridlock at Hastnagri-Firdus GT Road.

A transport department official noted that reliance on informal public transport worsens the situation, as many residents still prefer unregistered rickshaws and taxis despite the existence of the BRT service.

“Enforcement of traffic and environmental regulations to curb illegal operations is essential,” he stated, emphasizing the need to increase BRT bus frequency to enhance mobility and combat air pollution.

Sadaf Kamal, spokeswoman for Trans Peshawar, reported that the BRT service has significantly improved mobility, serving approximately 350,000 passengers daily. The number of buses has increased to 244 on main corridors and feeder routes, addressing congestion effectively.

After the BRT launch, 503 smoke-emitting wagons and buses were scrapped, with compensation provided to owners and jobs created for drivers and conductors.

The BRT’s impact has been notable, with the percentage of female passengers rising from two percent to 30 percent, alongside positive social, educational, and economic outcomes for Peshawar residents.

The government has plans to launch similar projects in Abbottabad, Swat, and DI Khan. Additionally, BRT services are set to extend to Nasirbagh Road, linking Regi Model Town with the main corridor, and plans for further extension to Pabbi Tehsil in Nowshera are underway.

Recognized both nationally and internationally, the BRT has received five awards, including the Gold Standard Award from the Institute for Transport Development and Policy and the Sustainable Transport Award for 2022-2024.

As Peshawar seeks to reclaim its title as the City of Flowers, transitioning to an environmentally friendly public transport system and strengthening BRT services could prove crucial in addressing air quality issues and alleviating traffic congestion.

By tackling these pressing concerns, the city can improve daily commutes while safeguarding residents’ health and restoring the beauty of its environment.

Residents have also called for an increase in BRT buses and the swift completion of commercial malls at Dabgari Gardens and Hayatabad Peshawar to boost revenue and enhance passenger facilitation.