Some 4000 CNG buses would be operated in Karachi with the co-operation of federal government, which has given a subsidy of Rs 2.5 billion. Immediately, under the project, to be implemented by Karachi Mass Transit cell with the participation of private sector, 500 buses would start plying in the city by the end of December 2009.
The pre-qualification of the operators in the private sector has started. The DCO Karachi Javed Hanif chaired a meeting of Implementation Regulatory Committee for CNG Buses, which was attended by senior CDGK officials and representatives of various NGOs.
DCO said that city district government is taking every step for enhanced transport facilities in Karachi and 50 CNG buses have already been introduced. The Director General Karachi Mass Transit Cell, CDGK, Malik Zahirul Islam gave a detail briefing about the operation of 4000 CNG buses in Karachi and said the project will be completed in 5 years under public transport partnership and co-operation of Federal Government.
He said some 500 to 1000 buses would come on city roads during 2010 and will be plied on 40 routes. He said Karachi Mass Transit Cell has identified 40 routes while one bus will carry 70-100 passengers. Besides Malik Zahir, the meeting was also attended by EDO Transport Iftekhar Qaimkhani, Transport Consultant Mohammed Athar, President Karachi Transport Ittehad Irshad Bukhari, Special Secretary Planning and Development Sindh, CDGK officials and representatives of orangi Pilot Project.