KARACHI, March 2: Following collapse of their talks with the city government, operators of the Urban Transport Service (UTS) and KPTS Metro buses on Friday decided to observe a wheeljam in the city on March 9 in protest against the alleged indifferent attitude of traffic police, Vigilance Committee and CDGK Transport Department officials.

The decision was taken at a meeting of bus operators which was presided over by President of the UTS Bus Operators Association Rana Muneer Ahmed Khan.

The meeting was attended by representatives of KPTS Metro Bus Operators Association, besides the office-bearers of the UTS Bus Operators Association.

The meeting noted that the government had promised nine and six per cent subsidy for AC buses and non-AC buses, respectively; provision of bus depots and 70 per cent loan facility, besides assuring registration, permit, provision of fitness under one-window scheme, no pressure for concession in fares and no excesses by police. None of these promises and assurances has materialised so far, it regretted.

It observed that police highhandedness had reached an alarming level with the imposition of heavy fines, impounding of vehicles and arrest of drivers becoming order of the day.

Announcing the decision to observe a strike on March 9, they demanded removal of KPTS Administrator and abolition of the Vigilance Committee, which comprises traffic police and Transport Department officials.

KTI: Meanwhile, the Karachi Transporters Ittehad (KTI) has threatened to observe an indefinite strike in the city against the DHA’s act of dislodging some 1,000 buses and minibuses from a parking area in Qayyumabad on Thursday. It demanded restoration of the parking facility or allotment of an alternative area for the purpose.

The KTI said that the DHA officials, along with a heavy contingent of police and Rangers, conducted the operation to dislodge 1,000 vehicles parked in the Qayyumabad parking area. The transporters had to park these vehicles on road resulting in traffic mess on Friday, it pointed out.

It said that the city nazim has convened a joint meeting of KTI, Secretary RTA and DIG Operations on Saturday (March 3) to sort out the issue.—PPI