KARACHI, July 2: The Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town has the distinction of housing three premier state-run universities — the University of Karachi, the NED University of Engineering and Technology and the Dow University of Health Sciences — which are located close to each other and have enrolments from almost all 18 towns of the metropolis.
Thousands of these students usually travel in public transport buses daily and the authorities are supposed to maintain a good network of public transport buses to provide a good service to the passengers. However, there is only one bus route, 11-C, which runs between Azam Basti and Safoora Goth via Saddar, Civic Centre and NIPA, to cater to the needs of such a large number of students, as well as teachers, staff of the universities and ordinary passengers.
It is Karachiites’ misfortune that despite being citizens of one of the biggest cities of the world, they still lack a proper and disciplined public transport system.
Those at the helm of the affairs in the transport departments of the provincial and city governments seem least interested in resolving the problems being faced by commuters and giving a boost to this metropolitan city’s image viz-a-viz the transport system.
In this lone mega city of the region, people are made to travel on rooftops of public transport vehicles. One could not imagine this ugly scenario in the cities like Tehran, Istanbul, Ankara, Mumbai, etc. Even the citizens of Lahore and Islamabad enjoy a more respectable and disciplined travel in public transport means. But poor commuters in Karachi have been left at the mercy of lethargic, anti-people and senseless policy planners.
Students are usually regarded by transporters and planners as unwelcome passengers. In fact, many bus operators despise them as they are entitled to concession in fare.
While the lone bus service of 11-C route is quite insufficient to cater to the needs of thousands of commuters, the number of point buses run by the universities for their students is also inadequate. Resultantly, a large number of students have to travel in mini-buses and coaches like ordinary passengers.
It is observed that some students have to change two-three means of transport either routinely or in case of having missed a point bus. This is indeed a heavy burden on such students’ meagre pocket money. However, our transport planners are yet to realise the problem.
What is needed is to connect the three universities with all major roads in the 18 towns through a network of bus routes to facilitate these universities’ students living in every noon and corner of the city.
The new bus routes would also benefit a large number of scientists and researchers working at the PCSIR, Kiran Hospital, Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases, Suparco, Met Office and such other major institutions, as well as visitors of recreational spots, like Safari Park, along these routes.—PPI
