10 new air-conditioned buses hit the roads in Karachi

KARACHI: As many as 10 air-conditioned buses have hit the roads in Karachi today after the buses fleet was formally launched by a provincial minister yesterday.

The ceremony to launch the buses took place at the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board office.

These buses would run from Quaidabad to Tower via Malir, Star Gate, Sharea Faisal, Shah Faisal Colony, Natha Khan Goth, Drigh Road, PAF Gate, Karsaz, Baloch Colony, Nursery, Jinnah Hospital, Metropole Hotel, Fawwara Chowk, Arts Council, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Tower.

The buses have started operating from today.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said more buses would be added to the fleet of the company, Daewoo, which was successfully operating its business in Lahore and Multan.

“The company will not ask for financial help from the government for providing 50 buses for the city initially,” he added. The minister further said work on Green, Orange, Blue, Yellow and Red lines was going on and the reasons for any kind of delay will be addressed.

About the circular railway project, he said it would soon be operational.

Mr Shah further said the mayor was the vice chairman of the Sindh Mass Transit Authority and was committed with the government to provide quality transport to the citizens.

The minister couple of days ago told the Sindh cabinet that the fare slab for operation of the 10 AC buses on intra-city routes had been proposed in consultation with all the stakeholders at Rs20 for less than five kilometres, Rs30 for five to 15km and Rs40 for 15km and above.