Karachi to get a dedicated heavy transport terminal at the Northern Bypass

KARACHI:

The Sindh government on Wednesday approved plans to establish a modern terminal for trucks, trailers and heavy transport vehicles outside Karachi in a bid to ease traffic congestion in the city.

According to a press release, the officials also approved the construction of a heavy goods vehicle lane connecting the Karachi Port to the proposed Northern Bypass terminal. The terminal will be built along the bypass road. Memon said the project is expected to ease the pressure of heavy traffic in the city and improve the transportation system as a whole.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the board of directors of the Sindh Mass Transit Authority, chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon. The meeting reviewed a series of urban transport and infrastructure projects for Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur, with discussions focusing on reducing traffic congestion and promoting eco-friendly transport.

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

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

The board also approved the launch of a taxi service with electric vehicles in Karachi and decided to expedite the financial evaluation process of the project this month.

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

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

Officials said five modern electric vehicle depots would also be established across 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 eco-friendly transport facilities to other districts in the province.

The board further approved the construction of a single-storey parking area 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 lights in the province would run on solar energy systems.