KARACHI, Dec 9: Despite a promise of fleet of buses by the participants of the Urban Transport Scheme managed by the city government and the Swede Bus Company that has signed different agreements with the provincial government, the metropolis has so far received only four buses.

The Swede Bus Company had promised with the city Nazim in November that 32 new buses will reach Karachi on Dec 3, while its operations at 2-B and 4-C, the two routes of Karachi Mass Transit Programme (KMTP) will start from the first week of January. However, the company has failed to meet its deadline.

The Scania Bus Company had signed an MoU with the federal and provincial governments in 1999, but according to CEO of the company, Ahmed Shabbir, arrival of buses to Karachi got delayed due to 9/11 incident.

Representatives of the company stated last month that 268 buses will arrive in Karachi in the next phase without any hindrance.

The Swede Bus Company had promised to establish about 200 bus stops at its expense in Karachi, but no progress has so far been made in this regard.

The 14 qualified companies of the UTS include some big names like Daewoo, Waqar Enterprises, Green Bus Company, Al-Aziz Road Transport, Mehmood Transport, Gul Enterprises, Pearl Transport and Altaf Shahrukh.—PPI