Karachi Aug 01: City Government has allocated Rs500million in the current year budget for procurement of further 100 CNG buses. Already 50 CNG buses were plying on two routes in Karachi under a pilot project costing Rs250million. Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal has a vision to change and upgrade the public transport culture in Karachi.
City Government was also considering start of work on Expressway project. This was stated by Executive District Officer Transport & Communication CDGK Iftikhar Qaimkhani while giving a briefing to media representatives about CNG Bus Project at this office on Saturday. Project Director Muhammad Athar was also present on this occasion.
Mr. Qaimkhani said that presently Karachi needs 5000 buses in public transport sector. Though 50 CNG buses did not cater to this requirement but this is a model project and should be seen as the beginning of change in the transport culture. City Government will welcome all those organizations whether in government sector or private who would want to run the CNG buses under this model. They would be provided with all facilities.
EDO Transport said that City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal desires that the public transport system should have the trust of citizens of Karachi. The buses must be operated according to strict time table and the environment should be such a high class that the public give preference to these buses on their own vehicles.
He said that more than 700 educated youths had been given jobs under the project of CNG buses while smart cards with the denomination of 300,200 and 100rupees have been issued for citizens. The bus drivers also got training and they would be bound to stop the bus at the chosen points only. For the purpose of CNG bus operation some work has been outsourced.
“The project was not aimed to earn revenue but to provide maximum travel facilities to citizens in Karachi. All required facilities to bus operators, drivers and staff have been provided at the Surjani Bus Terminal. In the next stage this service would be extended to far flanged areas of the city. City Government has inspectors have been deputed two inspectors for regular checking and inspection of buses on every route. The e-ticketing system would not be affected by the failure of power as the system was running on Ultra Power Supply (UPS),” he added.w
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