Daily Times

KARACHI: No government in the last 70 years has taken the public transport system in Karachi seriously, World has Bank reported.

The World Bank has informed that the Road transportation in the predominant form of transport in Karachi with a total network of approximately 10,000 kilometers, ever increasing population for satisfactory public transport system and non-existent mass transit system has been a constant increase in the number of vehicles in Karachi,

Between 1987 to 2016, number of registered vehicles in Karachi has increased from 0.5 million to 4.2 million, with an over whelming predominance of motorcycles (56%) and private cars (39%) in the model distribution of vehicles, accounting to 18 percent and 23 percent of passenger load respectively, in comparison, road network in Karachi suffers from menace of congestion and overcrowding.

Nonexistence of adequate institutional arrangement are causing mismanagement in addressing Transport related problems besides, lack of coordination among the agencies in dealing with various transport subjects .

Due to precarious financial state of affairs and siphoning of funds unlawfully, the implementation of Mass Transit Programme and other transportation improvement schemes could not be initiated in time; as a result the proper transport system could not be established to facilitate the public. Nonexistence of efficient, safe and comfortable public transport service ,delaying to reach work places, schools and other destinations, besides, fatal and non fatal accidents, environment pollution and high transport expenses on house hold budget.

Establishing transport authority to address all the subjects and activities under single authority with better coordination, support and efficient monitoring system have never been materialized.

Due to improper planning towards road infrastructure and lack of funding the public has been facing connectivity and accessibility to public transport facilities. Karachi having the population of being 6th in the world has no Mass Transit System, 4.5 public transport users besides existing public transport vehicles are in deteriorated conditions creating air and noise population, Non availability of institutional arrangement to deal with transport related issues under one umbrella never been addressed.

Poor infrastructure and road network to facilitate connectivity and accessibility to public transport system and scarcity of funds to support Mass Transit programme and road infrastructure network remained a nightmare.

There is a need to address the issue of import of dirty diesel at the highest level of federal government with the coordinated support of local and international stakeholders.

Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority and Engineering Board Government of Pakistan should ensure that public install cataleptic converter for emission control.

Implementation of mass transit scheme 2030 proposed by Karachi transportation improvement study project (KTIP) 2012 to ensure safe, comfortable and efficient public transport service at affordable fare structure on sustainable basis covering about 180 km network should now be seriously considered.

Moreover, there should be a serious thinking for development of road infrastructure network as suggested by KTIP study to ensure connectivity and accessibility to mass transit scheme.

Arterial roads, overpasses, new city roads and traffic management programme and truck terminal projects must be improved at priority basis. Rail based mass transit scheme including Karachi Circular Railway (KCR-43km), metro rapid transit system, corridors (blue line, brown line), road based mass transit scheme, 6 BRT lines including Green, Red, Yellow, Purple, Orange and aqua line covering 90 km network are now need of the hour.

There is a dire need to concentrate on the on-going and future projects. Expressway, 2 Lyari Expressways (16 km) and Malir Expressway (46 km), highways, 7 projects including 4 highway projects of 80 km and 3 highway projects for extension of University Road and linkage between Super Highway an National Highway have utmost importance.

Four arterial road networks with 33 projects (306 km), 53 overpasses, minor arterial roads (152 km) and connecting roads (152 km), signaling system on 53 intersection, parking projects, pedestrian bridges, 3 projects on northern bypass, Super Highway and National Highway are of importance. Establishment of high level coordination committee to deal with environment related issues like import of clean diesel vehicles should also be considered seriously.

Defunct Karachi Transport Corporation and Sindh Road Transport Corporation have been vanished from the scene due to corrupt practices and mismanagement. Even Work Bank financial assistance had been sought to release workers of these two entities on Golden hand shake .