Sindh to launch 250 hybrid buses in Jan

Sindh government has planned to launch 250 dieselelectric hybrid buses on six different routes in the city from January 2022. It has also planned to further facilitate the citizens of Larkana with improved public transport system by providing buses with the latest technology.

In this regard, as many as five depots will be set up in both the cities. With the name of 'Sindh Intra-district Peoples Bus Service' project, 50 buses will operate in the provincial capital in the first phase while remaining 200 buses will be brought in the second phase for Karachi and Larkana.

"We plan to bring more such transport facilities to other urban areas of Sindh," said Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) Managing Director, Imran Bhatti. Speaking to The Express Tribune after signing ceremony of the project between SMTA and National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation at a local hotel on Wednesday, Bhatti said, "it is the first intra-city project of his department, which is fully-funded by the Sindh government," Bhatti claimed.

He said, keeping in I view the rising demand for public transport in the port city, as many as 240 out of 250 buses will be plying in the city. The transport experts have designated six routes in the city.

Route 1 will cover a distance of 29.5km from Model Colony to Merewether Towr via Malir Halt, Colony Gate, Natha Khan Bridge, Drig Road Station, PAF Base Faisal, Laal Kothi, Karsaz, Nursery, FTC, Regent Plaza, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Cantt Station, Metropole, Regal Chowk and Aram Bagh.

Route 2 will cover a distance of 32.9 km from North Karachi to Indus Hospital via Nagan Chowrangi, Shafiq Morr, Sohrab Goth, Gulshan Chowrangi, NIPA, Johar Morr, COD, Drigh Road Station, Colony Gate, Shah Faisal Colony, Singer Chowrangi and Landhi.

Route 3 will cover a distance of 33 km from Nagan Chowrangi to Singer Chowrangi via Anda Morr, North Nazimabad Town, KDA Chowrangi, Nazimabad Town, Liaquatabad 10, Essa Nagri, Civic Centre, National Stadium, Karsaz, Nursery, FTC, Korangi Road, KPT Interchange and Shan Chowrangi. New buses will operate on Route 4 from Mosamiyat to Dock Yard, passing through Gulzare-e-Hijri, Motorway M-9, Al-Asif Square, Ayesha Manzil, Federal B Area, Liaquatabad No 10, Lalu Khait, Guru Mandir, Society Chowrangi, Empress Market, Sindh High Court, Arts Council, I.I. Chundrigar Road and Merewether Tower.

The proposed Route 5 will start from Surjani Town to Masroor, covering New Karachi, Shafiq Morr, KMDC, Ziauddin Chowrangi, KDA Chowrangi, Musa Colony, Mangophir, SITE Area and Gulbai.

The Route 6 is from Gulshan-e-Bihar, Orangi Town to Singer Chowrangi, via Banaras, Paposh Nagar, SITE Area, Golimar, Garden, PIB Colony, Jail Chowangi, Bahadurabad, Baloch Colony, Mehmoodabad, Manzoor Colony, DHA Phase-1, KPT Interchange and Shan Chowrangi. Buses in Larkana will cover stops from Larkana Bus Terminal to Larkana Junction, covering areas like Indus Highway, 7 Naka Bridge, Gharib Nagar, Naudero Chowk, Shahi Bazaar, Ansari Mohalla and Station Road.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Express Tribune, Sindh Transport Minister, Awais Shah said, "It is the first kind of project in the country not only in the province."

He said, each bus will transport at least 600 passengers daily in Karachi. "Fares have been fixed as Rs25 minimum and Rs50 maximum depending on the travel distance," he mentioned. Shah disclosed that this project was supposed to be launched in 2020, but it is delayed due to Covid-19 pandemic.