KARACHI, Sept 7: Most of the drivers of the green buses introduced under the city district government's Urban Transport Scheme (UTS) have started lifting and dropping passengers at non-designated bus stops, creating traffic blockade , especially at busy traffic intersections.

Like the drivers of buses, mini-buses and coaches who have developed a habit of lifting and dropping passengers either in the middle of roads or on turnings of busy traffic intersections, the drivers of UTS buses can also be seen lifting and dropping passengers not only in the middle of roads but also on busy traffic intersections.

The operators of the bus service had claimed that they would strictly follow traffic rules and regulations and stop vehicles only at designated stops. Although the operators of green buses have been allotted separate bus stops where they have also put up signboards, drivers of green buses avoid stopping vehicles at such designated stops. Instead of this, they prefer lifting and dropping passengers at turnings of busy traffic intersections.

A number of commuters said that on the one hand frequency of green buses is low as they have to wait for buses for 20 to 25 minutes and, on the other, they get disappointed when the driver of a green bus does not stop the vehicle at the designated stops.

A commuter who frequently travels in the green bus of UTS-19 said: "Isn't it torturous for a law-abiding citizen who despite waiting for a green bus for 20 to 25 minutes at the designated stops, fail to get the bus."

Another commuter said although the buses introduced under the UTS are new, their air-conditioning systems either does not work properly, or remain out of order off and on.

He said the AC system fails to work as drivers of buses are in the habit of keeping the doors open. Despite the fact that most of turnings of the city's major and busy traffic intersections have been turned into unauthorized bus stops, the traffic police who are supposed to ensure smooth flow of traffic play the role of a silent spectator. At these stops, rickshaws and taxis are also seen in large numbers.

Lauding the CDGK for introducing the comfortable and spacious buses under the UTS, a number of commuters who frequently travel in such buses, demanded of the City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, to ask the operators of such buses to increase their frequency, besides directing them to ensure that their drivers must stop vehicles at designated stops only.