KARACHI: The Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) has decided to start electric taxi service to provide low-cost and environment friendly transport facilities to the people of the province.

Initially, 200 taxis would be rolled out on the roads of the provincial capital, among which 50 pink-coloured vehicles with female drivers would be reserved for women.

The decision was taken in a high level meeting held here on Thursday with Sindh Minister of Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon in the chair.

Mr Memon said the service would not only provide employment opportunities to the unemployed youth, but environment-friendly vehicles would also save billions of rupees being spent on fuel import.

He said that charging and parking depots for electric taxis would also be built at different places in the city under the project.

500 vehicles to be added to Peoples Bus Service fleet

The meeting also decided to purchase 500 new buses worth Rs25 billion in the next financial year to further expand the fleet of Peoples Bus Service to ensure better transport facilities to the people.

Mr Memon instructed officials to bring all the buses of the Peoples Bus Service on the roads of the metropolis at earliest for the convenience of the people.

Sindh government would receive 20 more buses by June 15, and they would also be included in the fleet of Peoples Bus Service, he said and directed that all the buses should be on the roads but there should be no overlapping of buses anywhere.

The minister directed to start a new route of Peoples Bus Service in Hyderabad from Hatri to Kisana Mori with starting trial of the route within three days.

Mr Memon also called for devising a comprehensive plan and its implementation for connecting the Orange Line, Green Line and Red Lines of BRT project.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2023