City District Government Karachi (CDGK) is all set to launch 50 environment-friendly CNG buses by today (July 27) as all necessary steps have been taken in this regard. Hino of Japan has already delivered 25 buses to CDGK which are now parked at the designated bus terminal at Surjani Town and Korean company Daewoo has started delivering the 25 buses out of which 15 have already been received and the remaining 10 will be delivered before the launching ceremony. Earlier these buses were scheduled to be launched by the first week of this month. However, due to delay in getting the delivery of 25 buses from Daewoo, the project was delayed. The city government got the delivery of 25 buses of Hino on June 30. The District Officer, Public Transport Management Operation and Regulation, Muhammad Athar informed The News that two routes for these buses have been planned. One, he said, would be from Surjani Town to Merewether Tower and the other from Surjani to Korangi.He said that the services of these CNG buses would also be made operational one of which would start from Gulshan-e-Maymar to Surjani Town and other one would ply from Surjani Town to Liaquatabad No.10.
He said that the two routes would have 100 designated bus stops.
This pilot project is directly financed by the city government through its own resources. According to the city government department concerned, the cost of the 50 CNG is Rs218 million. Each of these buses would have a capacity for 80 passengers, 44 seated and the remaining standing.
Athar informed The News that depending on the availability of funds every year more buses may be inducted in the fleet. “In my opinion, a minimum of 100 CNG buses would be added every year if funds are available,” he said.
He said that the city government has also appointed five CNG stations for these buses.
“The operators of the buses would have nothing to do with money collection as the e-ticketing has also been outsourced,” he added.
Comments on this entry are closed.