KARACHI, Aug 16: Commuters from Gulistan-i-Jauhar, working at offices located on I.I. Chundrigar Road, have hailed the resumption of the urban transport service’s route 19, but have called for proper and prominent display of fare rates.
The bus service, the only one on the route – from Safoora Goth, Gulistan-i-Jauhar to Tower via University Road, Jail Road, M.A. Jinnah and I.I. Chundrigar – was a long-standing demand of office-goers, who were facing great hardships for long.
The service initiated on the route last year, involving the Green Bus transport service was suspended after some time because many vehicles of the fleet broke down due to poor management besides the inability of the concerned department to arrange for proper a terminus in the Gulistan-i-Jauhar area.
The UTS route-19 that resumed service on Monday is expected to offer great relief to commuters.
The fleet with 15 buses on the route would initiate its journey from Safoora Goth at 7.30am while the last bus from Tower to Safoora Goth will leave at 8pm.
Commuters talking to APP on Monday, however, suggested change in the time schedule.
They said the bust company should commence its morning trip a bit earlier, as many commuters also happened to be school and college teachers, and students with their institutions on the very route.
“I have to be at my school by 7.45am,” said Anisa Wasti, a school teacher.
The commuters said expect the Gulistan coach, no other bus service covered the route from Gulistan-i-Jauhar to University Road, M.A. Jinnah Road and Tower.
However, the Gulistan Coach service still does not cover Regal, Frere Road and I.I. Chundrigar Road areas where major commercial centres, offices — particularly newspaper and publication offices, besides numerous educational institutions are located.
“The UTS route-19 service would reduce the tension of changing buses in the mid of my journey to or from my work place besides offering relief in terms of recurring expenditure,” Arham Zeeshan said, reminding that while paying Rs12 from Gulistan-i-Jauhar to Tibet Centre, he had to pay another Rs6 to eight from Tibet Centre to I.I. Chundrigar Road, by taking another bus.
Another commuter, Saifullah, however, added that conductors of the UTS-19 should be polite while dealing with commuters and should not try to fleece them.
A proper display of fare rates for particular distances could help commuters understand the logic, he said.—APP