The western flank of the under construction subway in Karaj, Alborz Province, going up to Hashtgerd New Town is almost complete and ready for undergoing final tests, a deputy roads minister says.
Habibollah Taherkhani added that the line will start offering services as soon as trials are conducted, equipment are examined and all deficiencies are removed successfully, ISNA reported.
"Last month, power and signaling systems were connected and fences and other equipment were installed at Hashtgerd Station," he said.
Taherkhani promised Hashtgerd residents that they will be able to commute via metro in the coming weeks.
Hashtgerd is located 25 kilometers west of Golshahr Metro Station in Karaj, the last station of Tehran Metro’s Line 5.
The construction of Hashtgerd Station was started in July 2018 by Hashtgerd New Town Construction Company. Last year, the company estimated that the project was short of 700 billion rials ($6 million).
Line 5 was launched in 1998, by linking Tehran’s Sadeqieh Station to Karaj Station. Later, the line was extended to Golshahr. Line 5 is currently 41 kilometers long with 11 stations.
Currently, the capital's subway stretches over 220 kilometers and comprises seven lines (1 to 7) with nearly 120 stations. Lines 6 and 7 are yet to become fully operational.
Line 6
Urban managers in Tehran also announced the expansion of public transportation services.
Speaking to Fars News Agency, Hassan Khalilabadi, a member of Tehran City Council, announced that the construction of Tehran Metro’s Line 6 will be completed and all its stations will become operational by June 2020.
“Despite some tunnel construction difficulties in the southeastern part of the line, the work is progressing rapidly,” he said.
Line 6 is the longest line in the subway network, connecting southeast to the northwest of the city. When completed, the line will have 27 stations.
Four stations on the line have been launched so far.
Tehran Municipality officials say the capital city’s subway network has expanded significantly in recent years and over four million people are currently using the trains daily. The figure is expected to climb by a massive 25% after subway lines 6 and 7 are up and running.
But this is definitely not enough for Tehran where, according to statistics, a large number of people commute daily from the surrounding cities and towns. Subway expansion projects to areas with poor access to public transportation services are expected to make life easier for the general public.
Tehran Bus Fleet
As part of a push to boost the quality of public transportation services in Tehran, over a dozen buses have been upgraded.
Peyman Sanandaji, the head of Tehran Bus Company, told reporters that 15 buses have been upgraded and will rejoin Tehran’s bus fleet, IRIB News reported.
"Engines, gearboxes, interior trims, seats, brakes and the body of the vehicles were repaired and upgraded. The buses can now meet Euro 4 standards," he added.
Pointing to the economic headwinds facing Iran, he said phasing out dilapidated buses and replacing them with new imported ones is a luxury the country can ill afford. "Therefore, restoration and repair are our only options."
Sanandaji said TBC plans to restore 150 BRT buses by the end of the current Iranian year (March 2020).
According to TBC, 1,250 BRT buses are operating in the capital, some 700 of which are more than a decade old.
Tehran’s Bus Rapid Transit was officially inaugurated in 2008 on eight routes to facilitate urban traffic. The BRT system has a network of 150 km and transports 1.8 million passengers daily.
The BRT lines expanded over time and according to Tehran Municipality, the system currently consists of nine lines with 204 stations. The mapped BRT network has 11 lines, two of which are yet to become operational.
People and experts have repeatedly blamed Tehran’s nerve-racking traffic congestions and worsening air pollution largely on the inadequate and inefficient public transportation.
Tehran Municipality says buses account for 23% of urban transportation in the overcrowded metropolis, which is home to about 9 million people.
Besides BRT, Tehran's public transportation system includes buses and taxis, and an expanding subway network that has five lines and moves millions of commuters in and around the rapidly expanding capital daily.
