KARACHI, Feb 17: As many as 13 more transport firms on Tuesday promised to operate 885 jumbo size buses in the city over the next 12 months under the second phase of the city government's Urban Transport Scheme (UTS).

In the first phase of the UTS, about 100 large size buses were brought to the city roads and are already plying on various routes whereas another 70 are expected to be added shortly by four transport companies.

The 13 companies which have promised to operate 885 buses in the second phase were prequalified on the recommendations of an evaluation sub-committee set up by the Urban Transport Management Committee (UTMC).

The meeting was told that in response to an advertisement, 31 transport firms had obtained application forms, of 18 had been submitted. After processing the applications, 13 firms have been selected on the basis of their experience in the field of public transport and their keen interest in operating bust fleets.

The City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, who issued pre-qualification letters to the representatives of the selected companies at the meeting, emphasised the need for expediting the process of bringing new large size buses, saying that the city required between 5,000 and 10,000 buses to overcome its lingering transport problem.

Expressing his dismay over the transport system in the metropolis, he made mention of a tragic accident in which two children had died and their parents sustained serious injuries when a mini-bus, being driven by a conductor, made its way into a house after demolishing its walls in Mehmoodabad area.

He, however, lauded the new transport culture introduced under the UTS, pointing out that educated staff had been recruited as crew of the buses inducted under the UTS.

At the outset, the Nazim said that although a number of foreign companies had been evincing interest in introducing their buses under the UTS, the city government was giving preference to local transport companies because of their keen interest in the scheme.

DCO Mir Hussain Ali, speaking on the occasion, welcomed the selected firms and impressed upon them to come forward and take advantage of the business opportunity provided to them under the UTS and also help provide comfortable transport means to the citizens.

Participants of the meeting stressed the need for setting up of an 'urban bus drivers training institute' to impart proper training to drivers as well as other staff.

The meeting was attended, among others, by the EDO (Transport), Dr Tahir Soomro and the Chairman of the city government's Transport Committee, Hafiz Ahmed Ali.