‘Transporters, commuters to strongly oppose any such move’

Karachi

Any move to ban entry of rickshaws on Sharea Faisal would be strongly opposed by transporters’ bodies as well as commuters, read a statement issued by Karachi Transport Action Committee’s president, on Sunday.

Muhammad Ashraf Banglori in his statement said the committee deplored the imposition of ban on rickshaws plying the main thoroughfare since it would prove highly inconvenient for the general public.

He said the authorities had already failed to provide the city’s ever growing population with a decent mode of public transport.

The KTAC representatives urged the provincial government to ensure that fare metres were installed in the rickshaws in order to save people from overcharging and it should also be ensured that they were not misused once installed.

Banglori hoped the Sindh
Chief Minister would pay due attention to the issue and take appropriate measures to repair and renovate
roads which were in a dilapidated condition.

The city’s traffic police authorities had on September 15 come up with a plan for a hassle-free Sharea Faisal and announced several steps that, if properly enforced, could rid the city’s major thoroughfare of daily gridlocks and jams. 

However, owing to widespread condemnation of the decision from not only the citizens but also policymakers the traffic authority had to retract their statement, announcing a month’s increase in the deadline

The plan, which envisaged a complete ban on movement of rickshaws and light goods carriers such as Suzuki, Shehzore and Mazda pick-up trucks on Sharea Faisal, was announced after Thursday’s meeting of the traffic police authorities, chaired by DIG Traffic Amir Ahmed Shaikh. 

As per the decisions taken at the meeting, the outgoing track of Sharea Faisal, from Avari Towers to Star Gate, would be Track-1, whereas the side coming from the airport towards the city centre will be Track-II. 

The DIG said proper deployment of traffic staff was essential to control one-way violations near the Baloch Mess, army recruitment centre, opposite the Saddar traffic kiosk, the turning cut at Nursery, beneath Baloch Colony bridge, Ali Hospital, Karachi Public School near Star Gate and opposite the National Highway Authority’s office.