Sindh

KMC launches free shuttle service in Saddar

Parking will not be allowed along the routes of the shuttle service

Photo Mohammad Noman/our Correspondent October 16, 2015

KMC launched free shuttle service for public on Friday. The shuttles will ply on routes from the Parking Plaza to different parts of Saddar and parking will not be allowed along these routes. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD NOMAN/EXPRESS

KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) launched a free shuttle service for public on Friday. The shuttles will ply on routes from the Parking Plaza to different parts of Saddar.

Under the plan, parking will not be allowed along the routes of the shuttle service. KMC officials have advised citizens to avail the facility and play their part in improving the traffic flow in Saddar. Traffic police are also making an effort to discourage people from parking their vehicles in the busy streets of the area.

Read: Green Line: In a rare first, govt asks city’s architects to weigh in on Karachi BRTS

In order to facilitate citizens, KMC has made the Lines Area Parking Plaza functional as an alternative parking lot, where the facility is being provided at a low fee. The management of the parking plaza has been taken from KMC's charged parking department and handed over to the transport and communication department, as instructed by the administrator. The parking plaza has been renovated and a waiting room, a prayer area and clean bathrooms have been made.

A large number of encroachments are also supposed to be demolished from Magazine Line and Gul Plaza in a bid to improve traffic flow in Saddar.

The free shuttle service is being provided on two routes after brief intervals to various markets of Saddar. One runs between the Parking Plaza to Zainab Market Chowk via Empress Market and Singer Chowk while the other runs between the Parking Plaza and Electronics Market via Empress Market and GPO Chowk.

Read: Pakistani entrepreneurs launch 'Uber for rickshaws'

KMC charged parking director said that only approved parking in Saddar will be allowed. He added that action against all the illegal parkings will be taken and he will make sure that there is no parking in two or three lanes. "Illegal parking has become a mafia and it's not easy to get rid of them," he said, adding that he has also written to the South deputy commissioner regarding this.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17^th, 2015.

COMMENTS (6)

Dr. Saleem Siddiqi | 9 years ago | Reply This is a welcome move. However, cleanliness of the parking center is much to be desired. Secondly, the parking rates should also be brought down keeping in pace with common parking rates prevailing in the city. After all it is a Municipal project to provide amenities and NOT to earn profits. Last but not the least, the Gutter flowing from inside and just in front of this parking center is very filthy and one is trapped when he or she comes out after parking the vehicle. Parking area also needs to clean on a daily basis and proper painted lanes with sufficient lights are the need of he day which are lacking at present.

Shahid Kinnare | 9 years ago | Reply Karachi is four time bigger than Lahore, and have less budget.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

so | 9 years ago | Reply Karachi is lagging far behind lahore in fields of infrastructure and public transport

ZAK | 9 years ago | Reply If implemented this can improve the outlook as well as traffic flow upto large extent. Adminstration must not allow illegal parking and encroachment in Saddar.

Osama Raheel | 9 years ago | Reply What do you mean clean bathrooms have been made? Bathrooms, like every new structure, are always clean when made or constructed. The challenge now is not to make them a concoction of Paan, Cigarettes, and human waste primarily coming from the patrons of Kameez-Shalwar and multi-colored naaras.

Munir | 9 years ago | Reply This was the initial plan and the reason why parking plaza was built. But that poor building was staring into the traffic with no one coming in. Saddar was supposed to be parking free long time back.Hope the traffic police enforces the no parking zones otherwise it'll be dejavo all over again.

Replying to X