Necessity is the mother of
invention! A well know saying will be a better argument in support of plying
chingchi rikshaws in Karachi City. When the Government and the concerned
authorities don’t perform their jobs, then there always exists someone to fill
up the gaps. This article presents few important facts about the transport
system and the current ban on chinghi rikshaw plying in the city.
According to a report, there are 329 official bus routes; only 111 are currently
being operated, while the others have been abandoned because they are not
considered lucrative by the transporters. Karachi, a city of an estimated 22
million people, currently has roughly 9,527 operational minibuses, as compared
to the 22,313 it had in 2011, according to the report. The Karachi Metropolitan
Corporation (KMC) says an additional 8,676 large buses are required to fill the
shortfall.
Karachi, being the populous city of Pakistan, is lacking a planned transport
system. There were many initiates taken during past years which were initially
successful, most collapsed under financial strain. These failures include, but
are not limited to: the KIT (1950-57); Karachi Transport Syndicate (1957-58);
Karachi Road Transport Corporation (1959-67); Sindh Road Transport Corporation
(1967-77); and the Karachi Transport Corporation (1977-96).
In 2008, the city mayor ordered fifty CNG buses for usage instead of the old
minibuses. In 2014, Sindh Government also launched 36 CNG buses on the long
routes, but the number is still very insufficient. At that ceremony CM Sindh,
had announced the mass transit program, the Bus Rapid Transport, but still no
sign of the implementation came into view.
The people of Karachi use minibuses, coaches, and large buses for commuting
within the city. They are often cramped and filled to the brim. They are often
operated by reckless drivers who do not follow the rules of the road,
endangering many. After 2011, the chingchi rikshaw got the popularity due to
decreasing number of buses and unavailability of alternate transportation.
Here, I will also highlight the facts that, due to the disastrous transport
system most affected class are women. There are increasing number of women going
for job and education in the city. In old minibuses, coaches, and large buses
there is limited seating capacity in compartment for women. Poor women are
facing severe problems in commuting like, travelling hours in rush by standing
having no seats, sometimes harassed as well as maltreated and insulted.
The chingchi rikshaws during last 4-5 years went very successful on the main
roads and especially on link routes. These are also the time saving and
convenient mode of transport for commuters. Authorities concerned including
Sindh High Court, should consider the woes of public and implications of their
orders before giving any order. The current ban on the chingchi rikshaws has not
only increased the woes of citizen but also has provided the loss of jobs to the
poor drivers and chichgchi owners.
In order to provide convenient transport facility, Government should provide the
sufficient number of CNG buses in the city on long routes and on link roads
chingchi rikshaws should be allowed. Old buses are repugnant and create woes
among the commuters as these are risk prone resulting in accidents and time
wasting.
CNG buses are bit comfortable and better alternative in current situation, so at
a minimum, government should replace the old buses with green CNG buses as these
are well-ventilated, spacious and environmental friendly.