CDGK's bus shelters project a failure

City government's plan to establish around 432 bus shelters at 28 different spots in the metropolis on Built, Operate, Transfer basis (BOT) has failed for lack of response from private sector.
According to plan, city government had to establish A, B, and C categories of bus shelters on BOT basis at those spots falling under its jurisdiction. Each proposed bus shelter will have a tuck shop, a toilet and a washroom, and separate waiting rooms for ladies and gents.
During previous city government tenure it was decided to allot tuck shops at bus shelters to physically disabled people on discount basis in order to provide them with an opportunity to earn livelihood honourably.
The unfortunate project failed soon after its initiation, as only four bus shelters including three on Sharea Faisal and one on Rashid Minhas Road, could be established, while bus shelter on Rashid Minhas Road was later closed for various reasons, however bus shelters on Sharea Faisal are still somewhat functional. Each firm had to use the bus shelters for advertisement purposes on 10 years agreement.
The plan was aimed to facilitate the general public badly suffering for non-existence of official bus stands in the entire city, besides generating revenue through allotting them to private firms. People have demanded of the city government to undertake this much needed project on a priority basis in their greater interest.
City government officials believe that the completion of the proposed project will also help streamline the awkward vehicular traffic, which have caused serious commuting problems for public, besides bringing about the serious road accidents.
Officials are of the view that three such shelters are successfully running on Sharea Faisal, which should be extended to other parts of the city and will be a lucrative business in a near future.
Regarding the project division into three categories, they said bus shelters of category A and B will only have separate waiting rooms for ladies and gents while bus shelters of category C will have a tuck shop, a toilet and a washroom and separate waiting rooms for ladies and gents because required facilities are available at those locations, he added.