31 July 2004	Saturday	13 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, July 30: A meeting of CDGK departments on Friday reviewed progress of work on traffic management projects being undertaken by the transport and communication department of the city government.

City Nazim Naimatullah Khan presided over the meeting which was told that the construction work of the inter-city bus terminal in Model Depot, on Manghopir Road, for buses plying on Sindh-Balochistan route would be completed next month.

The depot, stretched over an area of seven acres, would have facilities like workshop, puncture repair shops, booking offices, rest houses for buses' crew, waiting room for passengers, cafeteria, telephone booths, etc.

Besides buses, other vehicles shuttling between the two provinces would also be accommodated at the depot which would have a parking capacity of 100 large-size vehicles. The meeting decided that registration forms for the parking facility would be issued to transporters of Balochistan-bound vehicles.

The city nazim told officials that the process of shifting inter-city bus terminals from residential and commercial areas of city to the National Highway and RCD Highway. He asked them to call tenders for the purpose and ensure transparency.

The meeting was informed that 32 sites in the city had been identified for the setting up of termini for local buses, mini-buses and coaches. A boundary wall had been raised around each of the 16 proposed sites whereas a route plan for shifting of the buses to the sites was being finalized.

The meeting was told that 471 bus transit shelters would be constructed on major and busy thoroughfares. Sharea Faisal would have four such shelters with the facilities of waiting rooms, telephone booths, toilets and tuck shops for male and female commuters. Construction work on 26 bus shelters had also been started.

The city nazim directed the concerned officials to allot the shops at bus shelters to some handicapped people so that they could have an opportunity to earn livelihood with respect. He said that the CDGK should have the right to allot the shops, being constructed on the basis of build, operate and transfer (BOT).

Mr Naimatullah Khan took strong notice of the delay in completing the construction work of a pedestrian bridge on University Road. He asked the concerned officials to accelerate the pace of work.

The meeting was informed that agreement had been signed with five companies for the construction of pedestrian bridges at 28 sites on BOT basis but pace of work on these projects was not up to the mark.

It also reviewed the option of undertaking the construction of pedestrian bridges by itself. Dr Tahir Soomro, Raeesuddin Paracha, Mohammad Tufail, Mohammad Athar and Amir Hussain were among those who attended the meeting. -PPI