KARACHI: SHC seeks report on shifting of bus stands: Directives to city, Sindh govts
By Shujaat Ali Khan
KARACHI, Sept 13: The Sindh High Court asked the city district and provincial government to submit their plans to phase out rickshaws, mini-buses and other vehicles causing pollution, to shift inter-city and inter-provincial bus stands from inside the city and to provide adequate public transport facilities.
One petition came up before a division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Yasmin Abbasy. Petitioner-lawyer Islam Husain said rickshaws were a public nuisance inasmuch as they emitted smoke and caused noise pollution. Most of them had faulty meters and the passengers were overcharged.
It was submitted on behalf of the city district government and the traffic police that no new license was being issued for single-stroke rickshaws but their total elimination involved the livelihood of a large number of people. It would take some time before the vehicles were completely banned.
The city district government planned to introduce more wide-bodies buses for intra-city travel to reduce dependence on mini-buses.
The bench asked the CDGK’s executive district officers for transport and mass transit to appear on Oct 4 to submit in detail the government’s plan. Advocate Manzoor Ahmed appeared for the CDGK, AAG M. Ahmed Pirzada for the provincial government and a deputy inspector-general for the traffic police.
Another division bench, comprising Justices Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Ali Sain Dino Metlo, asked the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board to sanction water connection for the newly-constructed terminal built in Baldia for buses coming from and going to Quetta.
The town administration was told to remove encroachments so that the terminal was fully operational at the earliest. The SHC nazir, who visited the terminal, appreciated its design and facilities meant for buses and passengers.
The mini-stands set up at Saddar, University Road and other places should be wound up and shifted to the main terminal, the bench ordered and asked the executive district officer for transport to report compliance.
The CDGK said in its detailed report that its transport department has developed a comprehensive strategy to revamp inter-city and inter-provincial bus movement.
The travel needs have grown tremendously during the last two decades.
About 200 major transport companies, besides individual transporters, operated on the Super Highway, the National Highway and the RCD Highway. There were about 200 terminals spread all over the city for various routes. Most of them have sprung up on unauthorized locations on roadside during the last few years.
The CDGK plans three terminals on the three highways at the edge of the city. A terminal at Yusuf Goth has already been constructed and the existing mini-stands on the University Road and at Lyari and Lea Market would be shifted to the new terminal to ease traffic congestion and facilitate smooth traffic on city roads.
As for terminals for vehicles using the national and super highways, the CDGK was re-inviting bids through the press on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis. No bid was earlier received for the National Highway terminal while one received for the Super Highway was rejected by the competent authority for being too high, the CDGK report said.
BIZERTA LINES: The bench, consisting of Justices Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Ali Sain Dino Metlo, meanwhile, commenced hearing of an Army Welfare Trust appeal against a single judge’s order for providing unhindered access to the residents of Bizerta Lines along the Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical Centre.
Appearing for the appellant, Advocate Kamaluddin Azfar argued that the respondent residents had no easement right under the Easements Act and alternative routes were available to them as evidenced by the SHC nazir’s report.
Representing the residents, Advocate Ahmed Hasan Rana maintained that there was no alternative route and that the nazir’s report was misleading. He said thousands of residents of the area would suffer if they were deprived of their right of way.
