KARACHI, Sept 18: Sindh Transport Minister Mohammed Adil Siddiqi said on Monday that the government has decided to shift illegal bus terminals in the city away from areas of congested population.

In the first phase, buses plying from Karachi to Balochistan will be shifted outside Karachi for which a bus terminal, equipped with all the modern facilities, has been constructed at Yusuf Goth on RCD Highway.

Presiding a meeting with transporters at his office here, Adil Siddiqi said that the government decision would greatly help overcome problems of pollution, traffic jams and elimination of encroachments.

The minister said practical steps have been taken for providing all possible facilities to people as well as transporters at this terminal set up on an area of 11acres.

He said in the first stage of implementation of this scheme, the buses leaving for Balochistan from Lea Market, Mewa Shah and Old Sabzi Mandi would be shifted to Yusuf Goth Terminal of the City Government. The scheme would be implemented after Eidul Fitr.

This terminal, he informed, will have the facilities of water, electricity, gas, telephone, three bus bays, parking area, mosque, medical centre, waiting rooms, cafeteria, workshops, bank, petrol pump, medical store, super store etc.

The meeting was told that the terminal will have capacity for 150 to 200 buses at a time with availability of offices for transporters. It will have 36 booking offices and two passenger terminals.

The meeting was informed that at present there are over 70 illegal terminus in the city for buses plying to Balochistan alone which are causing problems of pollution, traffic jams and encroachments.

It was stated that management committee has arrived an agreement between transporters, contractors and government representatives on on matters concerning offices, vehicles, entry fee.

Under the agreement, a monthly rental of Rs 4000 has been fixed for booking offices, Rs1250 as maintenance charges, Rs3000 as rental of the companies, Rs 450 daily as entry fee for 24 hours for big size buses and Rs300 for coaches while Rs175 will be charged for a stay of over 24 hours for big buses and Rs100 for coaches.—APP