CDGK to Launch Third CNG Bus Route Today

So ...... CDGK is progressing .......... what about Lahore Transport Company ............. Nothing new after plying 25 buses.

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Friday, January 29, 2010By Qadeer TanoliKarachiThe third route of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) CNG buses, from Orangi Town to Clifton, would be made operational today (Friday), with City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal scheduled to inaugurate the route. Public Transport Management Operation and Regulation District Officer (DO) Muhammad Athar informed The News that the CDGK purchased 25 Hino-made buses at a cost of Rs100 million. He said that 72 up and down bus stops have been constructed on the route, which would start from Orangi Town, and head towards Banaras, Board Office, Nazimabad Chowrangi No. 2, Civic Centre, and University Road.

The buses will then travel to MA Jinnah Road, Preedy Street to Empress Market, Lucky Star to Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) to Korangi Road, Sunset Boulevard, Punjab Chowrangi and end at Clifton Beach.The DO said that a dedicated bus terminal for this route has been established at Gulshan-e-Zia, Orangi Town, which is spread over four acres. He said this terminal has been established at a cost of Rs80 million, where every sort of facility would be made available for the buses, including repair, maintenance and availability of spare parts.Athar said that given the experiences of the past, the city government has introduced some new ideas on this route. He explained that on the two CNG bus routes that are currently operational, the management operation and maintenance of buses was outsourced to a company, while jobs such as dealing with CNG stations and revenue collection was being directly dealt with by the CDGK.

However, Athar said, all sorts of operations have been merged under one package for the third route. He said that the contract of handling all sorts of operations have been awarded to a company named Rahman Coach Service Company, which in turn, would pay the city government Rs450,000 every month. He added that 60 drivers have been deployed on this route. The DO said that the operator has been bound to charge Rs15 from every passenger, the same fare that is being charged on the other two operational routes. He said that an e-ticketing facility would also be available on this route, and passengers could also enjoy the facility of rechargeable ‘smart card’ of different denomination, including Rs50, Rs100, Rs200 and Rs300