KARACHI, Sept 19: The Urban Transport Scheme (UTS) is in jeopardy due to indifference of the city government towards fulfilling the promises made at the time of its initiation with the operators.

As many as 14 parties had pre-qualified when the scheme was launched one and a half years ago, however, 11 parties abandoned the scheme shortly after its launch while remaining three have been waiting for parking facilities.

The city government puts the blame on provincial government for not handing over the defunct KTC depots to construct intra- city bus terminal, a key requirement of private bus operators willing to induct large buses in Karachi.

The city government had been suggested to construct intra- city bus terminals at its vacant lands, which according to one of the officials of city government is suitable for parking large buses.

However, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan allegedly rejected the idea to hand over these lands particularly those located at Super Highway near Sohrab goth, sources in the city government said.

They said that the city government could hand over bus terminal located at Surjani Town to Karachi Green Bus without any notification of the provincial government.

The Allied Services, one of the pre-qualified parties for UTS, had brought 10 buses here. But, the buses are parked in workshops due to non-availability of parking facilities in the city.—PPI