KARACHI, Oct 2: An Urban Transport Service bus route is likely to be introduced in Shah Faisal Colony shortly as the transport department is in touch with at least two UTS bus operators for starting the service up to Tower via Sharea Faisal and Shaheed-i-Millat Road.
The city government’s transport and communications department said that in view of the transport problem faced by the area people, approval had been given for starting new routes.
It would be pertinent to mention here that an accord was signed with a UTS transport company, but the firm failed to arrange financing for 25 buses.
Now the city government is looking for a new operator in order to introduce the route at the earliest.
However, area people continue to suffer due to the shortage of public transport, and have urged the Sindh governor to take notice of their sufferings.
They said that no new bus routes were sanctioned during the
last 15 years owing to transporters’ clout who presently monopolise routes in the Shah Faisal Colony.
In response to news item titled “Shah Faisal Colony — Transporters block induction of UTS”, the city government’s transport and communications department said it was making all-out efforts to provide an effective transport service to commuters in view of the high travel demand and shortage of public transport service in Shah Faisal Town.
It further said that efforts were being made to induct new UTS buses, and referred to a meeting of the District Regional Transport Authority (DRTA) Board held on June 14, 2004, and stated that the board strongly supported the operation of new routes from Shah Faisal Colony.
“The transport and communications department also managed to sign an operational agreement on Aug 9, 2004, with one of the qualified UTS Transport Company M/s Transversion for operation of a new route from Shah Faisal Colony to Tower via Shah Faisal Colony 1,2,3, Raita Plot, Shama Shopping Centre, Colony Gate, Sharea Faisal, Shaheed-i-Millat Road, Tariq Road, Shahrah-i-Quaideen, Tower.
The company, it said, had not been able to line up the financing for 25 buses as yet. However, efforts are being made to introduce another company for operation of bus service under the UTS”, it added.
It said “presently, the Shah Faisal Colony is being served with following public transport service: (1) Mini-bus Route Y: From Shah Faisal Colony, Malir City, Sharea Faisal, Lucky Star; (2) Mini-bus route Y-2: From Dockyard to Shah Faisal Colony via; Shahrah-i-Liaquat, Saddar, Sharea Faisal; (3) Coach route 13-C: From Tower to Shah Faisal Colony, via M A Jinnah Road, Shah Faisal Colony Gate.
“In addition to the above, Suzuki pickup (stage carriage) are also providing shuttle service within Shah Faisal Colony,” it added.
