The CNG bus project that has to be inaugurated until September 2, today, is still waiting for the green light, however, the government is well aware that people are compelled to travel on the rooftops of buses putting their lives at risk and traffic on roads is also getting more thicker/congested with every passing day.
The assertions made by the Sindh government regarding mass transit system and improved transportation to Karachites on immediate basis seem to be no more than empty talks. One wonders that what are the priorities of the government or what is balking them to implement the plans for the better interest of public.
CNG Buses Project Director Ghulam Rasool has gone on official leave. When several questions were asked by PPI, he replied that neither of them saying he was asked to keep mum and not to provide any kind of information to the media.
Many other officers of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) – Senior Director Municipal Services Masood Alam, Chief Fire Officer Ahteshamuddin and many others – who are adamant not to give any information to media putting question mark on their performance, he added.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah had directed the management of KMC on August 21 to bring the fleet of 36 CNG buses on road by September 2. Before this, he had once more vowed on June 12 that CNG buses would hit the road by the end of June. Presiding over a meeting regarding intra-city bus project at the CM House, Shah said that reconditioning of the buses was in the final stages and that their reintroduction would be followed by intensive efforts to introduce a mass transit system in the city.
Chief Secretary Sajjad Salim Hotiyana had said on June 18 that CNG buses would soon be on roads. He had also ordered the concerned officials to ensure strict vigilance and maintenance of the buses which were stationed at the bus depot of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation in Surjani Town. At that time it seemed that nothing was going to stop the project to facilitate the citizens.
After that, Karachi Administrator Rauf Akhter Farooqui had confirmed on June 28 that the buses would be on roads in a week or two maximum.
The govt has spent Rs 40 million for re-conditioning of the KMC CNG buses which were off road due to deterioration condition since long.
Karachi is the largest city and the economic, financial and industrial hub of the country. However, there is still no proper mass transit system and the much promised projects of bus rapid transit system are simply on paper.
Now, KMC press release has informed that the inauguration ceremony to be held on September under KMC had been postponed and the ceremony would be held at Chief Minister House on September 5 where Qaim Ali would inaugurate the 35 CNG buses that would ply the route from Tower to Quaidabad.
Comments are closed.