KARACHI, Feb 2: The number of jumbo-size buses being introduced in the city under the urban transport scheme by the city government in the private sector will go up to 600 by the end of the current year and up to 1,800 by the end of 2004, the city Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, told Dawn.

Fourteen wide-bodied buses (four CNG and 10 diesel) had already begun running in the city on two long routes — from Merewether Tower to Gulistan-i-Jauhar and from Merewether Tower to North Karachi —, and another 46 such buses would be put on road in the next fortnight, he said, adding that the other wide-bodied buses, which would begin operation soon, would run on Landhi-North Karachi Route via Sharea Faisal, Sohrab Goth to Merewether Tower via Liaquatabad, Gulistan-i-Jauhar to North Karachi via Aga Khan Hospital.

Another fleet of 50 large-size Hino (diesel) buses will be brought on city roads in April by a group of overseas Pakistanis residing in Saudi Arabia, besides Allied services are expected to add another 25 large-size Isuzu buses.

Expressing optimism that the number of jumbo-size buses in the city will increase to 600 by the end of 2003, the city Nazim said with the introduction of such a large number of air-conditioned comfortable buses, minibuses and coaches, which had become a major source of accidents in the city, would either automatically be phased out gradually or these vehicles would be allowed to run only on main roads like Sharea Faisal or their movement would be restricted to smaller routes.

“In fact, the city’s transport culture will change completely as the commuters who are now forced to get down at non-designated bus stops by conductors of rashly driven buses, coaches and minibuses will be facing no such problem in future as it is mandatory upon the operators of wide-bodied buses to drop and pick passengers only from designated bus stops,” he said.

He said all those private companies, which were introducing their buses in the city, had agreed to build more than 400 bus shelters all along their routes.

The city Nazim said a survey to identify places for building bus stops had already begun and private transporters would be required to provide proper seats for men and women at the stops, and they would also provide other facilities such a public toilets, public call office booths, and food/newspaper stalls.

He said PCOs and food/newspaper stalls at the proposed bus shelters would help in providing jobs to handicapped persons.