The Karachi Company bus terminal, which is supposed to have all the basic facilities for the passengers who visit the federal capital, is in a pathetic condition, thanks to laxity of the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
Terminal’s transport manager Malik Zafar told Pakistan Today that the CDA was getting Rs 35 million from the contractor concerned for running terminal; therefore, the responsibility of renovation was that of the city’s prime agency, adding that the CDA high-ups seemed reluctant to fulfil their liabilities due to the reasons better known to them.
The Karachi Company is the only terminal in Islamabad, which was established by the CDA to facilitate the citizens, but the authority was paying no heed to upgrade it according to the requirements. There are a number of hotels and food stalls inside and nearby the terminal and most of the passengers rely on them to get their meals, but the overflowing gutters and poor cleanliness in the compound is posing serious health hazards to them. Transporters often wash their vehicles at the terminal, which results in accumulated water within the premises, creating enormous troubles for the visitors.
Another anti-public move by the authorities is that there are no proper toilets inside the terminal whereas the existing ones have been handed over to the contractors, who are overcharging the user (Rs 8 from each person).
“It is a responsibility of the CDA to construct toilets in the bus stop, which is an essential need at public places,” said Gul Nawaz a passenger. “No proper washrooms are available in the bus terminal, which is a constant headache, as we have to pass most part of our day here to earn livelihood,” Hameed, a bus stop staffer, said.
During the visit to the facility, it was observed that there are two lavatories in the waiting rooms, one of which for the staffers and the other meant for ladies, which are also not properly functional. The locals and staffers of the bus terminal believe that unresponsive attitude of the CDA chairman have also played a major role in the creation of all the problems.
The waiting room, the main requirement at the bus terminals and railway stations, is also in a poor condition and has not the capacity to accommodate enough passengers. Another major problem surfaced due to the single waiting room is that no separation has been made for male and female passengers due to which women feel unsafe in the presence of men. Therefore, most of the male passengers also have to sit in the terminal’s veranda.
Although the top transport companies have been operating from the terminal but they are also experiencing problems due to the unavailability of the sheds for buses and vans.
Sharing their difficulties with Pakistan Today, several visitors complained that the terminal’s administration was also responsible for the poor condition of the bus stop. “The CDA is responsible for maintaining the facility, but it is the responsibility of the administration to press the authority for ensuring basic facilities,” a visitor Jamal Mughal said.
However, transport manager Malik Zafar, while explaining their position, said requests had been repeatedly made to the CDA and they were helpless given the civic body was not ready to entertain their proposals. “It is the bus terminal of Islamabad, most important and sensitive city of the country, which has no boundary walls,” he added.
He told Pakistan Today that, the chairman pledged to upgrade the bus terminal at the oath-taking ceremony of the local traders of Karachi Company market held last year but he might have forgotten his promise. Malik said many applications were pending with the CDA for the renovation of toilets, erection of sheds and provision of other facilities at the bus terminal.
Apart from renovating and upgrading the Karachi Company terminal, the CDA should also launch bus service on more routes for different destinations of the country, which can greatly help the citizens who travel to the federal capital.
