News
Thursday, November 14, 2013
No plan in sight to revamp transport system in Karachi
KARACHI: Expanding demography and deteriorating public transport system in the city have jeopardised the prospects of promised ‘sustainable’ transportation system as millions of citizens still commute daily in medieval public transport, commonly known as ‘qinquis’.
Qinqui, an improvised motorcycle rickshaw a few years back used to ply in small villages; however, due to public transport crisis in Karachi this otherwise shabby and highly risky vehicle has become the first choice of commuting for Karachiites. As per estimates more than 1,00,000 qinquis ply on city streets, not only in suburban areas, but also on busy urban roads like M.A. Jinnah Road and University Road. These qinquis do not have registration number, side mirrors, indicators and hind lights.
In the past, Karachi was an urban city in connection with its public transport system with highly profitable surface rail transport, Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and vast fleet of wide-bodied buses of Karachi Transport Corporation (KTC). Even before the KCR and KTC, the city enjoyed a great tram system. However, with the passage of time instead of progressing in public transport sector, Karachi braved regression and today when even Lahore, called a big village, boasts of a modern metro bus service, Karachi is content to be a ‘Quinqui City’.
Experts say the main reason of deterioration of public transport system in Karachi was lack of direction and vision in the Sindh Transport Department as well as the transport departments of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). Public transport in Karachi is a highly lucrative business. Private transporters who buy junk buses and minibuses from other parts of Pakistan bring them to Karachi and make a windfall in this city of 20 million people. Experts added that these elements, for safeguarding their huge profits, pay bribes liberally to ensure no new public transport schemes were introduced in the city and even if introduced, they were systematically failed. Behind the failure of KCR, KTC, metro buses, CNG buses and green buses one could easily find the hidden hand of these elements.
Civic experts opined that there was a need of a strong political will at the government level and a corruption-free culture in the transport department to help development of public transport sector in Karachi on modern lines.
“As the first step, official colour code for all public transport vehicles, buses, minibuses and coaches, should be strictly implemented. This would give the public transport of city a disciplined look and help in proper regulation of this sector.”
In the second phase, all narrow-bodied minibuses, coaches and qinquis should be phased out from Karachi and only wide-bodied buses with good engine condition should be allowed to ply on city streets. This needs urban thinking and urban vision at government level and a strong support of political parties having urban vote bank, they added. ppi
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk