KARACHI, April 16: City Nazim Niamatullah Khan has categorically stated that transporters would not be allowed to change the routes allotted to them under the Urban Transport Scheme, and warned UTS operators against violation of relevant rules.

He was presiding over a meeting of the CDGK’s transport and communication department at the Civic Center here on Saturday. DO Public Transport Management Operation Mohammad Athar, UTS Operators’ Association Chairman Idrees Abidi, DDO Mohammad Iqbal Siddiqui and other officials attended the meeting.

The nazim noted that certain UTS operators were trying to change their allotted routes citing traffic jams and road blockade on account of construction work.

He directed the officials concerned to ensure holding of monthly meetings of the District Regional Transport Authority regularly, and give priority to UTS buses over mini-buses and coaches with regard to issuing of route permits.

“The city government is striving to ensure better travelling facilities to citizens and has already introduced new long buses. We are also trying to get the city rid of old buses,” he told the meeting.

The UTS bus operators at the meeting complained that their vehicles were often taken away for ‘official use’ by police who would also detain other vehicles for minor violation of traffic rules.

The contended that the police would not take action against a large number of mini-buses and coaches plying on city roads without route permits even if their drivers violated other traffic rules.—PPI