Amman, Aug. 9 (Petra) -- New inter-governorate bus routes connecting Jerash with Irbid and Irbid with Zarqa are now operational, providing residents with expanded public transport services as part of the second phase of the public transport development project.

The new routes, operated by the Land Transport Regulatory Commission (LTRC), aim to provide citizens with safer, more reliable and efficient transportation options, facilitate daily commutes, reduce travel times and improve connectivity between governorates, according to an LTRC statement released on Sunday.

The LTRC said that the Irbid-Jerash route will operate with 15 buses, each with a capacity of 50 passengers, while the Irbid-Zarqa route will be served by 42 Coaster buses. The buses are equipped with electronic payment and GPS tracking systems, as well as smart cameras, to facilitate fare payment, monitor trip schedules and enhance safety and service quality.

The Commission stated that the buses are equipped with advanced safety and comfort features, as well as electronic tracking and payment systems that help monitor schedules, maintain service frequency and enhance the overall passenger experience.

The expansion of the public transport network will continue in the coming days with the launch of additional routes. The Amman-Ajloun route is scheduled to begin trial operations on Aug. 16 with 22 minibuses, while the Zarqa-Mafraq and Jerash-Mafraq routes will begin operations on Aug. 20, using 44 large buses and 11 minibuses, respectively, the statement added.

The latest expansion follows the launch of the Amman-Tafilah and Amman-Ma'an routes last week, with the public transport development project expected to become fully operational by the end of August.

//Petra// AJ