KARACHI, Nov 28: As many as 50 more interchange flyovers and underpasses have been recommended to cope with traffic jams and congestion on busy thoroughfares of the metropolis.

Quoting a technical sector report on transportation, sources in the city government’s master plan department told Dawn that it recommended construction of 50 interchange flyovers and underpasses to create more ‘signal-free’ roads in addition to the existing ones.

Three underpasses and three flyovers have already been built as a part of a signal-free corridor (between Site and Karsaz) while five more underpasses and flyovers are currently being constructed as part of another signal-free corridor (between Nagan Chowrangi and Sharea Faisal), the sources said.

Referring to the recommendations concerning the long-term area-wise transportation, the sources said that these include expansion of expressways and construction of a coastal highway with links to national highways, besides upgrading more roads, constructing interchanges and bridges and extending the Northern Bypass further south to the Malir River.

The sources were of the view that reserves for exclusive/segregated bus lanes, BRT (Bus Road Transit) lanes, or light rail tracks on radial roads would particularly be useful for the development of improved transit and mass transit, and thus would help reduce congestion on other roads.

Mentioning the Karachi Strategic Development Plan (KSDP)-2020 proposals, the sources said these comprised many improvements to rationalise, modernise and expand the capacity of the city’s many private sector bus services, para-transit and, possibly, rail services.

A number of measures which will have to be initiated for implementing the proposals concerning buses include replacement of the existing bus fleet with a modern one and improvement in bus routes plan which provides for reserved high-volume routes (for large buses) and reserved low-volume routes (for mini-buses and small busses). Physical improvement of bus stops and transit terminals have also been suggested.

According to the sources, coordination of bus and minibus services would take the shape of allocation of different services to different routes, which means buses on high volume arteries and mini-buses on narrow roads, and this coordination will also include construction of terminals and shared facilities.

The other recommendations include construction of at least one downtown transport terminal for easing out access and transfer, liberalising fare-setting, bringing about physical improvements in condition of roads and off-road facilities, etc.

The KSDP-2020, according to the sources, envisages setting up of a central transit authority to help improve coordination among private sector operators on routes and services.

The proposed “central transit authority” will have regulatory and facilitating role but it will not actually operate bus services.

The authority will make recommendations on land-use, traffic management and parking.

The KSDP also foresees the need to create regulatory and administrative functions to facilitate mini-bus, taxi and rickshaw services so that they could continue to provide a valuable service to citizens.