PBS to ply on 6 more routes

Operation from Gulshan-e-Hadeed to Malir Cantt begins today

KARACHI:

Out of 11 routes of Peoples Bus Service (PBS) two are operational and six more, including Larkana, will be made operational within next two days while the infrastructure of four remaining routes is being improved to start the service.

This was announced at a meeting held at the CM House on Tuesday with Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah in the chair. The meeting was attended by Minister Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon, Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Shah, Karachi Administrator, Murtaza Wahab, Karachi Commissioner, Iqbal Memon, Secretary Local Government, Najam Shah, Secretary Transport, Haleem Shaikh, DIG Traffic, Ahmed Nawaz, MC KMC Syed Afzal, DG KDA, Mohamad Ali Shah, Chief engineer, CB Malir, Bashir Mirjat and Kashif Khan of SMTA, and Amir Shah and Shoaib Rafiq of NRTC.

The chief minister reviewed the operation and issues of different routes and directed the transport minister to start 30-kilometer Route No. 9 from Gulshan-e-Hadeed to Malir Cantt from Wednesday (today).

The service on Route No.9 is from Gulshan-e-Hadeed to Malir Cantt Check Post No 6 and 5 via N-5, Quaidabad, Sharea Faisal, Malir Halt and Jinnah Avenue.

Transport minister said that 37 buses are operating on 27-km long Route No. 1 (Malir to Tower). He added that the route is operational and a large number of commuters are taking benefit of the service. The service on the route is from Tower to Khokhrapar via Metropole, Sharea Faisal, Malir Halt.

The transport minister said that a section of 1.5 km road at Mehran Depot is in dilapidated condition and needs to be reconstructed. At this the chief minister directed the Minister Local Government, Syed Nasir Shah to get the road reconstructed.

The CM was informed that Route-2 (North Karachi to Korangi Crossing) is 30-km long where 38 buses are operating.

The service on this route starts from North Karachi Powerhouse via Nagan Chowrangi, Rashid Minhas Road, Drigh Road, Sharea Faisal, Korangi-5 and ends at Korangi Crossing.

Minister transport said that at two different locations at Korangi Crossing patchwork of the road was urgently required. At this the CM directed the local government department to repair the road on urgent basis.

The CM was informed that the Route-3 (North Karachi to Nasir Jump) was a 38-km long route where 38 buses would be made operational from July 22.

The route is from Powerhouse to Nasir Jump via Ajmer Nagri, Nagan Chowrangi, Shaharah-e-Noorjahan, Nazimabad, Eidgah, Sir Shah Suleman Road, Civic Centre, Karsaz, Sharea Faisal, FTC, Korangi Road, Qayyumabad, 8000 Road and Schon Chowrangi.

Route-6 (Orangi Town to Singer Chowrangi) will be operational from August 22, the transport minister informed the CM.

It was pointed out that the portions of the road from Ajmer Nagri to Shahrah-e-Noorjahan needed to be renovated. The chief minister issued directives for the repair of the road on urgent basis. The route would be operational from July 22.

Similarly, 23-km long Route 4 (North Karachi to West Wharf), 28-km Route-5 from Surjani to Masroor Base, 29-km Route 7 from Baldiya to Mosmyat and 29-km Route 11 from Mosamiyat to Dolmen Mall need reconstruction at different points to make the bus service operational.

The chief minister directed Secretary Local Govt Najam Shah to personally visit these four routes and suggest repair at the earliest.

Route-8 is of Larkana city. The route would start from Larkana Junction, Civil Hospital, Shahi Bazaar, Naudero Chowk, Municipal Stadium, 7 Naka Bridge, Abro Colony, Central Jail upto the Larkana Depot.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2022.