KARACHI, Jan 25: Private transport companies will bring nother 75 large buses, raising the number of large buses to 153 under the Urban Transport Scheme (UTS), introduced by the transport & communication department of the city government.

Hermain Services and Allied Services had shown their interest in bringing 50 and 25 buses each, respectively, next month. Grey Horse Road Liner is also planning to import 100 large-size buses under the UTS, bringing the total number of buses to 253 under the scheme, transport officials told Dawn.

Besides, Swede-Bus Pakistan, which had imported 32 large-size Scania buses, was expected to begin its operation by Jan 30, under the Karachi Public Transport Society (KPTS), the officials said.

“We are also in close contact with Grey Horse Road Liners — a UK- Netherlands-based company. The company is yet to submit its proposals formally, but has shown interest in operating their fleet of 100 large-size buses under the UTS,” the officials added.

Grey Horse Road Liners is also bringing another fleet of 100 large-size buses to be operated under the KPTS for which the company has formally contacted the KPTS administrator, Shamsuddin Abro, who said: “We have sent them our terms and conditions and asked them to submit their formal request, as the meeting of the board of governors of the KPTS is going to be held soon. We will discuss this matter in the meeting and finalize it.”

He said the addition of another 100 buses to the fleet of the buses, plying under the KPTS, would help overcome the transport problem and bring about competition.

He said a formal agreement with Swede-Bus Pakistan had been signed and its formal operation would hopefully begin by Jan 30.

The officials of the transport department said another two companies, Hermain Services and Allied Services, had also formally submitted documents to bring their large-size buses to be run under the UTS. The buses were expected to arrive in the city by the end of February.

They said Hermain Services would bring 50 large-size Hino buses and Allied Services 25 large-size Isuzu buses.

Green Bus Company had already brought 28 large-size CNG buses and two routes had been awarded to it.

The Nazim Karachi, Naimatullah Khan, has said Jan 30 will be the beginning of a proper transport culture in the city, adds APP.

He was speaking as chief guest at a certificate-distribution ceremony held at the end of training for drivers and conductors at the Green Bus Service depot under the auspices of Swede-Bus Pakistan.

Earlier, the Nazim went round various sections of the depot.