By Moin Ullah Shah
KARACHI: Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi chaired a meeting of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Board at his office, where important decisions were taken to rationalize the existing bus route policy and improve transport facilities for citizens.
The meeting was attended by Transport Secretary Asad Zamin, DIG Traffic Syed Pir Muhammad Shah, all Traffic SSPs, Assistant Commissioner (Headquarters) Iqra Jannat, RTA Secretary, Director of the Traffic Engineering Bureau and other officials.
The meeting reviewed the ‘Karachi Mobility Project’, a plan proposed by the Transport Department of the Sindh government, and discussed measures to make public transport services more effective and accessible across the city.
Commissioner Karachi said the policy for issuing bus routes should be rationalized and aligned with the needs of citizens to ensure transport facilities were available in every part of the city.
He directed the RTA Secretary to prioritize the issuance of bus routes for areas, including suburban localities, where residents faced difficulties in accessing transport services.
The meeting decided to avoid introducing long-distance bus routes within the existing transport system. It also reviewed measures to reduce traffic congestion and was informed that work had started on the computerization of traffic signals in Karachi.
Officials said five traffic signals in the city were being computerized. Work had already begun at three major intersections — PIDC, Sindh Club near the Metropole Hotel, and Avari Towers — which would help improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.
The meeting was informed that work on the computerization of traffic signals at Teen Talwar and Boat Basin would begin soon.
Senior official at the Commissioner’s Office Ghouse Bux Abbasi briefed the meeting that 12 of Karachi’s 16 non-functional traffic signals had been restored, while work on the remaining four was in progress.
The meeting also reviewed complaints regarding arbitrary fares charged by rickshaw drivers and decided to introduce digital meters in rickshaws.
It was decided that rickshaw fares would be calculated according to distance, with digital meters displaying the fare for each journey. Officials said the move would help passengers know the exact fare and address complaints of overcharging.
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