Karachi to have dedicated heavy transport terminal on Northern Bypass

KARACHI:

The Sindh government on Wednesday approved plans to set up a modern terminal for trucks, trailers and heavy transport vehicles on the outskirts of Karachi in an effort to reduce traffic congestion in the city.

According to a press release, officials also approved the construction of a dedicated heavy vehicle road linking Karachi Port with the proposed terminal on Northern Bypass. The terminal will be built along the ring road. Memon said the project is expected to alleviate heavy traffic pressure within the city and improve the overall transportation system.

The decision was taken during a board meeting of Sindh Mass Transport Authority, chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon. The meeting reviewed a range of urban transport and infrastructure projects for Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur, with discussions focusing on reducing congestion and promoting environment-friendly transport.

The session was attended by senior officials including Sukkur Mayor Arsalan Islam Sheikh, Transport Secretary Asad Zamin, Sindh Mass Transport Authority (SMTA) Director General Saleemullah Odho and Traffic Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Pir Muhammad Shah.

The meeting reviewed a range of urban transport and infrastructure projects for Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur, with discussions focusing on reducing congestion and promoting environment-friendly transport. The session was attended by senior officials including Sukkur Mayor Arsalan Islam Sheikh, Transport Secretary Asad Zamin, Sindh Mass Transport Authority (SMTA) Director General Saleemullah Odho and Traffic Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Pir Muhammad Shah.

The board also approved the launch of an electric vehicle taxi service in Karachi and decided to accelerate the financial evaluation process of the project this month.

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In another move, the authority approved the purchase of 50 new double-decker buses for Karachi. Sharjeel Memon said each bus would have a capacity of 126 passengers and would help improve passenger flow and reduce pressure on public transport.

The board also approved the purchase of 500 additional pink electric scooters for women. Distribution of the scooters is scheduled to begin in Hyderabad on May 22. Memon described the pink scooter initiative as a “revolutionary project” that had played an important role in empowering women. He said that within a year, the introduction of 1,000 scooters had changed public attitudes across society.

The purchase of 500 electric buses under a public-private partnership model was also approved at the meeting. Of them, 450 buses will run on 25 routes in Karachi, while 50 will run on five routes in Hyderabad.

Officials said five modern depots for electric vehicles would also be established in Sindh, including four in Karachi and one in Hyderabad. The next phase of the electric bus project will begin in Sukkur, with plans to expand the environment-friendly transportation facilities to other districts in the province.

The board also approved the construction of a single-storey parking space near the Maula Ali Qadamgah site in Hyderabad. The facility, spread over one acre, aims to improve parking arrangements for visitors and residents.

The meeting also decided that all future traffic signals in the province would be powered by solar energy systems.