KARACHI, July 20: Presence of a number of bus termini on main roads and streets in the city have become a major source of hindrance in the smooth flow of traffic, besides adding to noise pollution and even accidents.

Such unauthorized inter-city termini exist on main University Road, near Old Sabzimandi, at Al-Karam Square, at Cantonment Station, Lines Area, and just behind Taj Medical Complex where large buses remain parked, creating traffic bottlenecks.

On University Road, they have not only grabbed a major portion of footpaths and tracks running parallel to footpaths on either side of the road, but they often keep on shuttling from one place to another, creating obstacles for traffic.

The traffic proceeding towards either Hassan Square traffic intersection or Jail Chowrangi comes to halt whenever drivers of buses either take a U-turn or try to overtake another parked vehicle.

A similar chaotic situation occurs when tankers drawing water from the nearby LSR hydrant cross the main university from almost a similar place. People residing in the adjacent apartment buildings and those having their shops and offices near the bus terminus complained that the upcountry-bound buses have become a major source of nuisance to them owing to noise made by buses.

Another illegal terminus of upcountry bound buses on the main M A Jinnah Road, near Jacob Lines government girls school, continues to create hindrance in the flow of traffic not only on the main road but also in Lines Area, behind the Taj Medical Complex.

Jutland Lines' Union Council Nazim, Mehfooz-un-Nabi told Dawn that the presence of up-country bound buses terminus in Lines Area had become a major source of traffic congestion in the locality.

A visit to the Lines Area showed that whenever drivers of the buses reverse their vehicles or try to negotiate turns, all traffic coming from either direction comes to a standstill in the narrow lanes, situated behind Taj Medical Complex and those leading to Saddar.

People residing in the huge housing complexes, and concerned citizens have demanded of the City Nazim to expedite the process of shifting of such termini on busy roads and residential areas.