Karachi is the most populated city of Pakistan which is considered to be the economic hub yet there is no proper public transport system in the city. The problem becomes more severe when CNG stations are closed, which is a routine.
As buses and coaches failed to cater the need of the passengers ‘chinchis’ came to fill the gap, the three wheeled chinchi was so successful that within a year the metropolitan city became filled with this mode of transport resulting in ban by government due to traffic problems.
Now the mini rickshaws have become the new mode of transport in the city which you can find in almost all corner of Karachi. These mini rickshaw carry few passengers and cover long distances such as from Malir to North Karachi and from Safoora to Korangi.
But as there is no government interference they charge as much as they want. The usual fare from Malir to Gulshan is Rs. 30 which is twice the bus fares yet people prefer it as buses & coaches are overloaded.
A huge city Karachi had till recently no garbage disposable system no water supply no transport system and a corrupt ruling mafia in the form of PPP and MQM ruling the city for almost 30yrs .
— Mohammad Iqbal Abid (@Habbash) May 5, 2018
Despite the fact that these rickshaws are mostly run on petrol the prices are increased when CNG is not available. In such cases they charge Rs. 40 for Malir to Gulshan, the fare from Malir to North Karachi is Rs 50 but in rush hours they demand up to Rs. 70.
The bus mafia also utilizes any chance of looting the common citizen. It is usual practice for conductors of coaches to charge Rs. 20 instead of Rs. 15 by making excuses that they don’t have change.
Please don’t argue with me abt the importance of public transport. I come from Karachi where we critically need a proper public transport system. I am willing to vote for Satan for that to happen in Karachi.
— Mahwash Ajaz (@mahwashajaz_) March 16, 2018
Though on several occasion Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) was proposed for the metropolitan city but no initiative was taken. Current Federal government started the Green Line Project which is the first phase of BRT in Karachi but despite political statements the work has not been completed.
Due to delay the estimated cost of Green Line was also increased from Rs. 16 billion to Rs. 24.6 billion. The 22 km BRT system will run from Surjani Town to Jama Cloth Market which will benefit those who travel through the route but millions more are waiting for similar projects on their areas.
For years I have been saying country’s economic hub, Karachi, city of over 22 million is simply ungovernable, Whether it is water and power, , transport or street crime. I doubt load shedding issue would be resolved despite PM, Abbasi’s assurances.
— Mazhar Abbas (@MazharAbbasGEO) April 23, 2018