KARACHI, April 9: The District Regional Transport Authority Board (DRTAB) has decided to take action against the buses and minibuses operating without route permits or failing to complete legal formalities in this regard.

The decision to this effect was taken at the DRTAB meeting, presided over by District Co-ordination Officer Mir Hussain Ali, here on Wednesday.

The DCO directed owners of all public transport operators to ensure their observation of all rules and regulation and restrict their vehicles’ movement to the granted route.

He also directed them to fulfil the requirements for their vehicles’ fitness and strictly observe the rules regarding separate women compartment. He said that male passengers must not be allowed to enter into the female compartment of public transport.

To make the vehicle fitness system and procedure transparent, the DRTAB meeting decided to constitute an inspection committee, headed by the EDO (Transport). The DIG Traffic, Muhammad Yameen Khan, and Secretary (DDO) of DRTAB will be members of the committee.

The meeting also decided to make amendments to the existing routes and introduce new route. It was decided that restriction imposed on the issuance of route permits to minibuses would remain in place.

The meeting approved some applications for change/amendments to the routes.

The DRTAB meeting also approved news routes for buses which included Orangi Town, Gulshan-i-Bihar, Ayub Goth. The route alignment is: Gulshan-i-Bihar - German School - Shah Faisal Chowk - Orangi Town 13-14 - Qatar Hospital - Orangi Town No. 1 - Qabsa Morr - Banaras Chowk - Abdullah College - Board Office - KDA Chowrangi - Hyderi - Water Pump - Sakhi Hassan, Shadman Town - Nagan Chowrangi - Shafiq Morr - Godhra Camp - North Karachi - Industrial Area - Saba Cinema - Ayub Goth.

The meeting also approved a new bus route from PIB Colony to Landhi, Qadhafi Town.

The route alignment is: Jail Chowrangi - Shaheed-i-Millat Road Extension - Hino Chowk - Korangi Crossing - Korangi 1-2-3-5 - I Area - K-Area - Darul Uloom - Landhi - 36B - Landhi 4-3 - Landhi 89 - Dawood Chowrangi - Quaidabad - Manzir Petrol Pump - Qadhafi Town.

The meeting approved amendment to the minibus route W-25. The new route is: Saba Cinema (North Karachi) - Godhra Camp - Bismillah Hotel - UP Society - UP Morr - Nagan Chowrangi - Sakhi Hassan - Hyderi - Board Office - Abdullah College - ZMC Stop - Orangi 13-14 - Eidgah Chowk - Islam Chowk Orangi - Dabba Morr - Raees Amrohvi Colony - Khyber Chowk - Ahsanabad - Gulshan-i-Maymar - New Sabzi Mandi.—APP