KMC launches free shuttle service in Saddar

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.

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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.

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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.