KARACHI: 2nd inter-city bus terminal project launched
KARACHI, Dec 2: The City Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, on Thursday laid the foundation stone of Karachi's second inter-city bus terminal at Razaqabad on the National Highway.
Addressing the ceremony, Naimat said that over 200 inter-city buses terminals in the city were a cause of traffic jams and accidents and, therefore, the city government had decided to construct terminals for inter-city buses at the RCD, National and Super highways.
He said that work on the RCD Highway terminal had started and would be completed in three months, whereas work on the inter-city terminal on the National Highway would start from Thursday and would be completed in four months. He said its construction would help solve the problems of the residents of Razaqabad.
He pointed out that not a single bus terminal had been constructed in the city in the last 57 years. Meanwhile, he disclosed that the city's first underpass would be constructed at Gharibabad, Liaquatabad. Work on the project would begin from December 7. He announced that construction of flyovers at Sohrab Goth and Hasan Square would also start soon.
Mr Naimat said that at present construction work on 10 major roads in the city was in progress at a cost of Rs1.50 billion, while construction of 25 new roads would be started within next few weeks. This would lead to economic progress, he added.
Keeping in view the fact that Pakistan's 75 per cent industries were located in Karachi, Naimat said that construction of roads would certainly provide a boost to imports and exports besides providing jobs to people.
He told the gathering that the Export Promotion Bureau would undertake infrastructure improvement development programme in Korangi, North Karachi, Landhi and the F.B. Area's industrial estates.
He said the number of vehicles in Karachi was fast growing and, therefore, special attention was being paid to traffic improvement schemes, adding that work was in hand to make the Sharea Faisal a signal-free road.
He said that talks were in progress with Japanese companies and experts for the construction of flyovers at Sharea Faisal, from Airport to Hotel Metropole. Speaking of the circular project, the city nazim said that the Karachi circular railway was being revived, and work was being carried out on the construction of the city's first mass transit corridor on priority basis.
All this was to facilitate the common man keeping in mind that more than 50 per cent people in Karachi were living in katchi abadis with limited income sources, he said. A meeting in this regard, he said, was being held in Islamabad the next week which would also be attended by him and the Sindh chief secretary.
The EDO Transport, Dr Tahir Soomro, said that according to an estimate, some 1,380 inter-city buses entered the city, and some 3,527 inter-city buses were registered with the provincial transport authority. He said that because of over 200 terminals, the problems of traffic jams, air pollution and noise pollution were growing.
He said that buses plying on the National Highway would park at the Razaqabad terminal, and as a result the terminals at Lea Market and other places would be done away with.
The Chairman, Transport Committee, Hafiz Ahmed Ali, said that the third terminal on the Super highway would be inaugurated soon and all inter-city bus terminals would be shifted outside the city. The ceremony was also addressed by MPA Sajid Jokhio and others. - APP
