AutoBus to increase fleet to Hashemite University, improve maintenance services

AMMAN — The Mutakamilah Transportation (AutoBus) Company has decided to increase the number of the buses it operates to transport Hashemite University students next week, a company official said on Saturday. 

AutoBus Director Moayad Abu Farda said the decision was taken after a meeting held last week between representatives of the university and the Transport Ministry. 

“We are going to provide 20 more buses, bringing the total number of buses operating to the university to 130,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone. 

Abu Farda noted that the problem is not with the number of buses, and the solution is to define specific routes to the Zarqa-based university  because the company’s buses face traffic jams on the way.

“We are going to designate backup buses in case one of them is not working. We will also open a maintenance centre near the university to monitor the quality of the vehicles. We will also operate a maintenance car on the road as an additional safety measure,” he added.

The decision follows strikes and demonstrations held by the university’s students in protest against “poor transport services”.

Last week, the students held several activities such as an overnight stay in front of the university’s main gate and boycotted the company’s buses to push for better transport services. 

They were also planning to hold a demonstration outside the Transport Ministry last Thursday, but decided to put it on hold to give the company time to boost its services, according to Ibrahim Obeidat, the head of student and transport affairs at the university’s student council. 

“There is no reaction so far from the students because they are used to the company’s promises. They will only be relieved when they see solutions on the ground,” Obeidat noted.