The Sindh government has approved a heavy vehicle terminal on Karachi’s Northern Bypass and a dedicated cargo corridor from the port. The SMTA board also cleared EV taxis, 50 double-decker buses, 500 EV buses and more pink scooters.
KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to set up a modern terminal for trucks, trailers and other heavy vehicles on the Northern Bypass outside Karachi as part of efforts to reduce congestion on the city’s roads.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) board chaired by Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Sukkur Mayor Arsalan Islam Sheikh, Transport Secretary Asad Zamin, SMTA Managing Director Saleemullah Odho and DIG Traffic Pir Muhammad Shah.
According to the decisions taken at the meeting, a dedicated corridor for heavy vehicles will also be developed from Karachi Port to the planned terminal to improve cargo movement and reduce disruption inside the city.
Sharjeel said the project would help lessen the load of heavy traffic on Karachi’s roads and support improvements in the broader transport system.
Transport and mobility projects reviewed
The board reviewed a number of schemes aimed at improving urban mobility, lowering traffic pressure and encouraging environmentally friendly transport in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur.
Among the decisions, the board approved the early launch of an electric vehicle taxi service in Karachi. It also allowed the opening of financial bids later this month to move the project forward.
The meeting further approved the procurement of 50 new double-decker buses for Karachi. Each bus will have the capacity to carry 126 passengers, a move intended to improve commuting options and reduce pressure on the public transport network.
EV buses and women-focused scooter scheme
Under a public-private partnership model, the board also approved the procurement of 500 electric buses. Of these, 450 will operate on 25 routes in Karachi, while 50 will run on five routes in Hyderabad.
Sharjeel said five modern EV depots would be established across Sindh, including four in Karachi and one in Hyderabad. He added that the next phase of the EV bus project would be launched in Sukkur.
In another decision, the board approved the purchase of 500 more pink EV scooters as part of a women-focused mobility initiative. Sharjeel said these scooters would be distributed among women in Hyderabad on May 22.
Referring to the programme, the minister described it as a revolutionary step and said it had already contributed to changing social attitudes.
Other approvals
The board also approved the construction of a single-storey parking plaza near the Maula Ali (RA) Qadam Gah in Hyderabad. The facility will be built on one acre to help visitors and local residents.
In addition, the meeting decided that traffic signals across the province would gradually be converted to solar-powered systems.
The measures approved by the SMTA board form part of a wider set of transport initiatives being pursued in Sindh, with projects spanning Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur.
