KARACHI, April 1: The city government’s transport and communications department seems less interested in resolving the pressing problem of public transport being faced by residents of Shah Faisal Colony as it has been ignoring the people’s demand for the introduction of large-size buses despite being reminded off an on for months.
Although scores of such buses, inducted under the Urban Transport Service (UTS), have been allotted the routes covering almost every area of the city, not a single one has been sanctioned for this vast sprawling locality. This attitude has been forcing the residents to feel being discriminated upon.
The people, however, still pin hope on the department for a positive response to their demand, according to a social worker of the area.
Due to the non-availability of buses and mini-buses in the colony, residents of this sprawling township have been left at the mercy of, what they usually call, the ‘local transport mafia’, which operates some vehicles, mainly Suzuki pick-ups. Drivers of these hooded vehicles often resort to rash and reckless driving in spite of the fact that the vehicles often carry extra passengers. Thus, they not only violate traffic rules to earn as much as possible, but also put lives of passengers at a great risk.
Usually, 15 passengers are stuffed in a vehicle having a seating capacity of seven. While some people travel on footboard, some others are pushed onto the rooftop. Such a dangerous practice is a common sight on the route between Korangi 2-1/2 and Shah Faisal Colony No. 2 to 5, as well as anther route between Shah Faisal Colony No. 1 and 5.
Apart from commuters, pedestrians also face threat of falling prey to the reckless driving. In some areas, surveyed recently, it was observed that students of the Khursheed Girls Colleges, and Allama Iqbal College, Superior Science College, as well as those of numerous schools of the area are exposed to the high risk of being hit by speeding vehicles when they cross the railway tracks in the colony to reach the main road while on their way to their respective educational institution or while returning home. Lives of the people, most often parents, accompanying the children are equally at risk. They have no other option because crossing the tracks is the only way between their colony and the main road.
The situation had been even more dangerous until recently when a traffic signal under the flyover at the Colony Gate was installed.
The sad part of the story is that the Shah Faisal Colony flyover, built at a heavy cost, has no loop for pedestrians. Women and children are the worst sufferers most of whom have to walk several hundred metres on foot to reach the main road and catch some public transport means.
Mr Pasha, a 65-year-old resident of the colony, says he has to walk along a 2-km-long path from his home in Faisal Colony No 5 and cross the high-risk rail track to reach the main road.
Dejected residents of the area have urged the governor and city nazim to pay immediate attention to their longstanding problem and take steps for the introduction of UTS buses which should cover their area.
