KARACHI TRANSPORT SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION: Pakistan’s cities have to develop and manage their public transport systems in such a way as to provide a high level of mobility, equity and environmental sustainability. The paper identifies several factors, including the importance of governance, capacity building and urban planning in providing adequate, efficient and effective public transport in Pakistan. Now government start projects like BRT for the betterment in our transport issues. Government also plan KCR project to eliminate traffic problem. Uber and Careem introduce to facilitate the public. An historical overview of public transport policy in Pakistan from the British India Period through to recent years, as viewed through the public transport planning in Pakistan by:  Reviewing current literature and data.  Reviewing the history of public transport planning and policy.  Listing several factors overlooked in the development of public transport in Pakistan. The data presented have been collected mainly through policy documents and published scholarly articles. BACKGROUND: Public transport in Pakistan: In 1947, the railways constitute the most valuable capital asset of the country and were the only intercity public transport mode. At the time, Pakistan railway (North Western Railway) carried at largest numbers of passengers in Pakistan (Govt. of Pakistan, National Planning Board 1957). However, the plan proposed that in (west) Pakistan a powerful system and growing road transport system operate and should complement each other. Accordingly, 70% of the total land transport investment was made for road transport during the plan period of 1955-60. Motorized traffic was very limited until 1947 and walking was the largest mode of transport followed by the Tanga (horse drawn carriage). CHAPTER 01 2 Report on qualitative and quantitative research on Karachi transport Omni bus was operated in some cities, while tramway provided services only in Karachi. The second five years (1960-65) plan allocated to introduce 500 new buses in its fleet for intercity public transport. The public transport scheme was initiated by the government in 1991 with an incentive package import taxes, buses and mini buses for an efficient public transport system. In 1996, the system was based on rail-road mixed mode that contained an urban railing between, Rawalpindi and Islamabad connected with feeder coasters, mini buses in Islamabad by Benazir Bhutto. People are using rickshaws and chinghchies and public buses for their transport. Rickshaws were founded in Pakistan after 1970’s. These services are very reasonable for public, they cover long distance in low price. Government is doing some development programs to improve the services. Buses provide a significant rate in connecting a large number of travelers from one city to another. Daewoo express was founded in 1999, 33 cities on 43 destinations with over 200 buses. Tracks are using for import and export sector, since last decades and it is still in working for road trading. The train was inaugurated by Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on 15 may 2015 at Islamabad railway station. In recent years, some companies have been adding specially modified vehicles. Now government start projects like BRT for the betterment in our transport issues. Government also plan KCR project to eliminate traffic problem. Uber and Careem introduce to facilitate the public. Fig 1, 2, and 3 shows the trams of Karachi in 1960’s CHAPTER 01 3 Report on qualitative and quantitative research on Karachi transport Modes of transportation: 1. Car 2. Bus 3. Train 4. Bikes 5. Cycle 6. Walking 7. Boats 8. Airplane 9. Taxi cab 10. Tram 11. Auto rickshaw 12. Rickshaw (chingchi) 13. Careem Fig 1.1 shows the Daewoo Bus Fig 1.2 shows the overloaded buses In Karachi Fig 1.3 shows the worst condition of public bus in Karachi Fig 1.4 shows the chingchi in Karachi CHAPTER 01 4 Report on qualitative and quantitative research on Karachi transport Reasons for best transportation: 1- Walking is one of the best ways of transportation because it cannot produce pollutions and the people are commonly used for short trips. At present, the importance of walking is underestimated because everybody wants to use of private or public vehicles in a shorter time. 2- Second best is cycling due to cycling the mental and physical health of people is good and safe and it cannot harm anybody because it cannot produce pollution that effects on health and it decreases the ratio of major accidents and it is very cost-efficient for its users and its maintenance costs are very low then other private vehicles. 3- Third best is public transport means buses. We know that it also creates more pollution but it may be cheaper prices then other public or private vehicles but in Karachi there is a shortage of buses so, people are using private vehicles bikes or cars mostly. 4- Trains are also best transportation but in Karachi no proper system of circular railway and it can also help to reduce traffic on roads because the passengers are divided in different sectors of transport so, the burden on roads can easily be reduced. Reasons for worst transportation: In worst transportation there are private vehicles cars and motorbikes it created more pollution from public transport because in now days the ratio of private vehicles are too much. If we compare 1 bus with 1 bike or 1 car that you see a difference in one bus at least 60 passengers travels at a time but if they all use a private vehicle at least 60 vehicles at a time on road then it produce many pollution and also a chances of traffic jams that’s why public transport is very good in terms of health, environment, traffic jams and road accidents.