KARACHI: High Court bars entry of long-route buses into city
By Shujaat Ali Khan
KARACHI, Dec 1: The Sindh High Court barred on Friday all inter-city vehicles whose terminals have already been constructed from entering the main city. Appropriate directives would be issued by the authorities concerned to ensure that the vehicles are parked at the new terminals and no passengers are picked or dropped at the old stands in the congested areas of the city.
The deputy inspector-general of traffic shall enforce the bar, a division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Faisal Arab, observed in an interim order in a petition moved by Advocate Islam Husain.
The bench observed that it appreciated the city district government’s keenness to shift inter-city bus terminals from the congested areas of the city and eliminate motor rickshaws to ease traffic and curb noise and air pollution.
But a cut-off date for each measure planned to undertaken must be announced well in advance. Petitioner Islam Husain has moved the court for ban on motor rickshaws and other smoke-emitting vehicles.
The city district government submitted in its comments filed by Advocate Manzoor Ahmed that measures were being taken to ensure pollution-free environment and ensure smooth flow of traffic.
A bus terminal had already been constructed in Baldia Town on the RCD Highway for vehicles going to and coming from Balochistan. Two more were being built on the national and super highways for vehicles going to upcountry and the interior of Sindh.
All facilities, the CDGK counsel said, have been provided at the Baldia bus terminal but the transporters were reluctant to shift their own stands in Old Sabzimandi, Lyari, Saddar, and other areas for short-term gains. They were picking and dropping passengers at various points convenient to them in violation of a court order.
The bench called for the constitution of a committee consisting of the advocate-general, the transport department secretary, the DIG Traffic, a representative of the city district government, the petitioner lawyer and Advocate M Ilyas Khan, counsel for the affected rickshaw owners, and transporters’ representatives to submit a definite proposal with regard to cut-off dates.
AG Anwar Mansoor Khan, meanwhile, filed a report on behalf of the transport department stating that the ban on rickshaws was imposed in pursuance of a directive by the chief minister issued on June 30.
Operators of double stroke rickshaws have been given sufficient time to switch over to four-stroke vehicles by June 2007.
The cut-off date has been fixed keeping in view the convenience of all the parties concerned and requirements of smooth traffic flow and better environment, the department said.
