In a move ‘initiated to discourage private transporters’ from operating within the University of Karachi (KU), the varsity’s security department started collecting charges from the transporters; however, the move has backfired as more and more private contractors are approaching the university management to invest in the lucrative market. However, the KU Transport Committee is unaware of the recent developments.
One of the largest public universities of the country, more than 25,000 students are enrolled in more than 50 separate departments at the KU. The university has its own transport system but the recent cuts in funding and limited resources have restricted the university from increasing the number of buses or even maintaining the existing vehicles that cater to around 4,000 students at the campus daily.
During a visit to the KU on Thursday, Pakistan Today observed a number of people sleeping under the trees. When an official was questioned about the presence of outsiders inside the varsity campus, he replied these people were owners of private vehicles, who provide pick-and-drop services to the university students.
He said the transporters bring students of the morning shift to the campus and until the students are free to return after attending their scheduled classes, the transporters remain inside the campus.
A transporter, wishing to remain anonymous, said for each of his vehicles, he was paying Rs 5,000 annually to the KU management.
“I owned five coaches and started providing facility to students in 2005. Later I sold three of them and now I am paying Rs 10,000 for my two vehicles to run the transport business inside the campus,” he said.
“When I started, there were only 20 private buses operating inside the campus but the number of transporters has increased over the years and now around 70 private vehicles are providing pick-and-drop facilities to over 2,800 students.
“The university never demanded charges from private transporters, but this year they charged Rs 5,000 on each of the vehicle supporting its fragile transport system. The varsity asked us to submit the charges at the start of the new academic year [in January],” the man said.
When approached for comments, KU Transport Committee in-charge Dr Shadab said the matter was dealt by the KU security and they were responsible for the movement of vehicles inside the campus. “I don’t know if the private transporters are paying Rs 5000 to the varsity. The KU security department would respond over this issue,” he said.
However, he added, that the university’s own transport system was on the verge of collapse due to unavailability of funds and cut in grants.
“The KU points [buses] have the capacity to cater to only around 4,000 students of the 28,000 students enrolled in the varsity. There is a need of 100 more points. The fuel prices have risen sharply but the varsity cannot increase the transport fares,” said Shadab.
The KU points charge Rs 5 as fare from the students availing the point service.
A KU security officer confirmed that the varsity is charging Rs 5,000 from private transporters for operating each vehicle inside the campus.
“The varsity charges [Rs 5,000] on account of entry passes [issued to the vehicle owners] once at the start of the academic year.
“The management decided to charge money from the transporters in order to discourage them but the private vehicle operators are increasing at an alarming rate.
“I cannot say who exactly is benefiting from the amount collected annually from private transporters,” he said.
