KARACHI, March 2: The City District Government has decided to prepare a traffic master plan for all the 18 towns for improving the traffic system in Karachi.

The work in this regard has already been undertaken keeping in view the fact that if public transport and mass transit systems were not improved, the city would face a serious problem of traffic jams in the coming few years, said Dr. Muhammad Tahir Soomro, EDO transport and communications, at a presentation given to the chairman of transport committee of the City Government here on Saturday.

He said the city had over 200 termini of local buses and 26 of inter-city buses. The department has identified sites for construction of termini for inter-city buses at National Highway, Super Highway and RCD Highway. The construction of these bus termini would reduce the traffic pressure in the city. Besides, 32 sites for local bus termini have been identified, of which boundary walls at 18 sites have already been constructed, he added.

As regards traffic signals, Soomro informed that out of 152 signals of the city, 74 are maintained by transport and communication department. A committee consisting of engineers has been constituted to monitor the signals on a daily basis.

Referring to the digging of roads by various agencies, the EDO underlined the need of liaison among all those bodies providing utilities to the citizens.

Discussing the issue pertaining to earmarking place for parking in the new commercial buildings, it was stressed that the concerned department should consult the transport and communications department before approving any building plan.

The meeting also discussed the Liaquatabad flyover, parking, route permit and other issues.

Hafiz Ahmed Ali, the chairman of transport committee, opined that the MVT be paid to transport and communications department for proper execution of development projects.

Later, they inspected traffic signals at NIPA roundabout which have been repaired after several months.—PPI