KARACHI, March 26: Buses and coaches operating in the city under the metro scheme of Karachi Public Transport Society (KPTS) have been found violating rules and regulations.
The concerned authorities asked the operators of these buses several times to abide by the rules but they have turned deaf ear to it, despite being members of KPTS. The issue has been taken up at the executive body meetings and would again be discussed by the governing body of KPTS in its meeting to be held on April 6 next.
A report prepared for the KPTS general body meeting states that buses operated on KPTS routes provide service to thousands of commuters hence utility and importance of metro bus service cannot be denied, yet much is left to be done. Complaints regarding agreement violations are reported daily for which reminders and notices are issued to the concerned operators. Personal requests have also been made to them but with no result, it added.
Some of the complaints, the report mentions, are non-adherence to approved route alignment and short turning of routes; non-issuance of uniform to the conductors and drivers; overloading and cigarette smoking; operation of routes without route permits; non-display of KPTS logo and monogram; deteriorating physical condition of buses; advertisement panel display on the bodies of buses without completing the procedural formalities; stopping of buses at non- designated bus stops and delay in payment of service charges.
As regards to permission for display of advertisements on Metro Buses, the operators had submitted an application, which was put up before the executive committee of KPTS in its meeting on Aug 11, 2001.
The meeting was informed that many challans were being made by the traffic police and show-cause notices issued to the company by the secretary of regional transport authority for violating Rule 207 of Motor Vehicle rules.
The meeting had decided that in view of the written permission of the then Commissioner Karachi to the advertisers, only the rear side of vehicles, leaving space for rear windowpanes, is allowed for display of advertisements. However, the operators are not following the decision and buses are being used for advertisements on both sides as well as rear side, the report said.
The operators of Worldwide Express had also made same request but turned down by the executive committee on the same grounds. The secretary RTA had also issued show-cause notices to this company for violation of the rules.
The committee again on Dec 14, 2001, took up the matter and noted that the operators continue to violate the rules. Provincial Secretary Transport, who is also the chairman of KPTS, took serious notice of the reports that KPTS buses are stopping everywhere like mini-buses, and directed that these buses should only stop at designated halts, failing which disciplinary action be taken against it.
The members of the committee had also taken serious view of the deteriorating condition of the buses. Violations by the operator of route no 17 Express and 4D also came up in the meeting. It was informed that the operators had stopped plying buses on 17 Express unilaterally. Notices were issued to them, however, it was suggested to cancel the route permit and matter be taken up in general body meeting.
The operators of 4-D route, from New Sabzimandi to Tower, were also issued notices for complaints regarding overloading, short turning, plying buses without route permit and collecting “adda charges”.—PPI
