26 October 2004	Tuesday	11 Ramazan 1425

KARACHI, Oct 25: The long standing problem of illegal inter- city bus termini seems to get resolved to some extent when the city government would initiate construction of bus terminus at Yousaf Goth in Baldia Town for Balochistan-bound buses in November.

An official of transport and communication department said that PC-1 for Yousaf Goth bus terminus at Hub River Road had been approved and the construction of roads, shades and other structure would cost around Rs6 million. On construction of roads around Rs1.2 million would be spent while the construction of building and electric works would cost Rs5 million.

He said that the terminus, which was scheduled to be completed in four months, would benefit around five million commuters annually.

According to the official, there are 26 illegal inter-city bus termini only for Balochistan-bound buses, which use the RCD Highway whereas the number exceeds over hundred when the illegal bus termini used by inter-city buses coming through the Super Highway and the National Highway is counted.

A survey conducted recently by the transport and communication department showed that 1,380 large size inter-city buses entered and left the city daily. Almost all of them used to originate and terminate at the sites, scattered throughout the city resulting in traffic chaos and environment pollution.

Multiple growth of illegal inter-city bus termini haphazardly has resulted in compounding the severe traffic congestion on major arteries of the city. These illegal inter-city bus termini are located at Taj Medical Complex, Cantonment Railway Station, Sohrab Goth, Patel Para, Lea Market, Banaras Chowk, Pathan Colony, Boltan Market, Old Sabzi Mandi, and at a few other places.

Shifting of these termini is a long standing demand of Karachiites for which countless pledges have been made by higher authorities over the years. But, all the exercise and rhetoric went in vain as no serious attempt was made for relocation of these termini.

The transport and communication official said that design process for bus terminus at the National Highway had been finalized and tenders were expected to be issued shortly for it. However, the construction of bus terminus at the Super Highway is halted due to land encroachment. Besides, the matter is in litigation and has been stayed under the court orders. -PPI