Daily Times

Under a joint venture with a private bus company, the provincial government has started the pilot phase of People’s Bus Service with 10 air-conditioned buses across different city routes.

Speaking on the occasion, Transport Minister Nasir Hussain Shah said that the provincial government had not invested anything in the project, adding, “we are working to motivate other transporters to invest as we have plans to help them in terms of insurance.”

Shah said, “It may be taken as the first drop of rain. There will be more buses on the city’s roads in the coming days.”

“The company will not ask for funds from the government for operating up to 50 buses,” the minister said, adding that work on Green, Orange, Blue, Yellow and Red lines was also going on and reasons for any kind of delays would be addressed.

“The Chief Minister has already said that the Sindh government will help transporters in generating funds for new buses, while their insurance will be done by the Sindh Insurance Company.”

Elaborating further, he said, the Sindh government would give Rs2 billion through modaraba, and provide banks 30 per cent credit risk guarantee.

Shah said he understood that the city needed around 8,000 new buses. According to a plan approved by the Sindh government last year, 600 intercity buses were going to be introduced in Karachi.

On question about the circular railway project, he said it would be operational soon. Shah further said the mayor was the vice chairman of the Sindh Mass Transit Authority and was committed with the government to provide quality transport to the citizens.

Initially, 10 air-conditioned buses have been made operational, with separate doors for men and women to enter. Each of these buses can accommodate around 30 people at a time, whereas the fare has been set at Rs20 for a trip less than five kilometres, Rs30 for a trip between five to 15 km, and Rs40 for trips above 15km. The buses will remain operational from 6am to 11pm, between Dawood Chowrangi and the Tower. Commenting on the new bus service, a commuter inquired how could the government expect 10 buses to be enough for the city the size of Karachi, even in the pilot phase? Another commuter, Jibran, said it was still a commendable initiative, adding, “The best part is that we will get proper seats to sit on as opposed to most other buses in which people have to commute stacked together like cattle.”

Published in Daily Times, April 19^th 2018.