Karachi’s transport conundrum

The curious case of Karachi’s history is that it tends to repeat itself far too often. Yet again, in accordance with a plan approved by the Sindh Chief Minister, low height city buses are to arrive, in this case 100, in Karachi to counter the city’s existing and persistent commute troubles. And yet again the operation of these buses will be handed over to private management for implementation of the government’s plan. The question remains: Will Karachi’s transport woes ever be undone? It seems not.

What seems more baffling than the city’s dilapidated transport condition is that even after years of repetition officials still don’t get the hint. Considering the enormity of the situation, buses simply won’t do. Currently Karachi’s transport routes are infested with an amalgamation of useless and ill-throughtout infrastructures. Out of 11 new projects worth Rs7 billion soon to be launched in Karachi, not a single one shows a redesign from scratch, rather the reliance is on the same repetitive approach of a bridge here or an underpass there.

The ideal solution would be to rethink and restructure the whole transport system and while this may seem farfetched a lot more can still be done with the already existing resources. What Karachi needs is a single transport mechanism that interconnects the city pivots which include heavily populated localities, major markets and industrial areas. This can be achieved by further developing, enlarging and extending the Metrobus transit network while clearing out the plethora of ineffective infrastructures built in various pockets across the city. Ramshackle buses and other obsolete means of public transport need to be removed from the streets and free metrocards allotted to citizens for easy access. This could be a good start.

The government needs to break this vicious cycle of relying on outdated solutions and take into account the various stakeholders such as traffic authorities, urban developers, designers, commuters and transporters.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2020.

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