KARACHI, June 13: The city government has started work on the construction of an inter-city bus terminus in the environs of the metropolis off Super Highway near Gulshan-i-Maymar, which is likely to be completed in next eight months. Addressing the gathering at the foundation stone laying ceremony here on Monday, City Nazim Niamatullah Khan said that his government had been receiving complaints from different sections of life that numerous workshops and termini located in residential areas were disturbing the residential atmosphere.
Mr Khan said that his government had taken decision to initiate work on inter-city bus termini, which was necessary to stop the entry of inter-city buses inside the city.
Referring to other cities, including Hyderabad and Lahore, he said that inter-city bus termini were established outside cities to avoid disturbing city traffic and minimize environment pollution.
He said that being the major city, Karachi was deprived of inter-city bus termini and his government had not only taken decision to initiate the projects but it had already started work on an inter-city bus terminus on RCD Highway, which was in its final phase of completion. Another project was initiated on the National Highway, he said and pointed out that after the completion of bus termini, some 2,000 to 2,500 large buses would not enter the city minimizing the environment pollution and lessening the traffic hazards on main city roads. He said that the projects would also generate job opportunities for people.
Niamatullah Khan disclosed that the 45 acres were allocated for the terminus at Deh Bhatti, Scheme 33, off Super Highway but most of its portion was encroached upon by the land mafia over the passage of time. He said that the city government, with the help of Rangers and police, managed to reclaim 18 acres and decided to construct the bus terminus without any further delay.
The District Officer of Road Safety (Traffic and Communication), Zafar Ahsan, said that the terminus would comprise terminus administration office, police post, bank facility, separate waiting lounges for men and women, repair and maintenance workshops, public toilets, and other facilities. The city government would finance the entire project with an estimated cost of Rs113.34 million.
He said an estimated Rs11 million would be spent on roads’ construction, Rs84.3 million on building offices, lounges, and other structures, while Rs18 million on electricity and other facilities.
