LINKING URBAN MOBILITY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC EQUITY: A CRITICAL STUDY OF BUS RAPID TRANSIT (BRT) IMPLEMENTATION IN ISLAMABAD AND RAWALPINDI

Abstract

Urban mobility in rapidly expanding cities has profound implications for socio-economic equity. In Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system was introduced as a solution to challenges of accessibility, affordability, and social inclusion. This study critically examines the extent to which the BRT system promotes socio-economic equity by evaluating accessibility, service quality, affordability, and social inclusion through a mixed-methods approach, combining a survey of 54 users with qualitative interviews. Findings reveal that while BRT enhances affordability for a significant majority, gaps persist in service accessibility, infrastructure inclusivity, and last-mile connectivity, disproportionately affecting marginalized populations. Notably, 85% of users reported facing or witnessing discrimination, and accessibility remains limited in peripheral areas. Drawing on the theories of Social Equity and Sustainable Urbanism, this paper argues that despite partial successes, the BRT system falls short of achieving comprehensive equity goals. Policy reforms focusing on infrastructure redesign, expanded feeder systems, and targeted inclusivity measures are essential to transform BRT into a genuine catalyst for socio-economic development