Karachi’s Green Line Bus Service off to bumpy launch

The Green Line Bus Service for the people of Pakistan kicked off its commercial operations on Saturday but it soon ran into trouble due to overcharging, inactive bus-stops and unavailability of tickets, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The seventh most-populated city of the world and the metropolitan port city, Karachi, finally got the international standard transport — Green Line Bus Service — after several hiccups since its ground-breaking five years ago.

The first bus went off carrying passengers from Sarjani Town to Abdullah Chowk and reached at 8:22 pm at Haideri Bus Station. 

The initial ticket price for the travel is fixed between Rs20 and Rs25 and 250 people can easily be accommodated in each bus. But the commuters raised a hue and cry after they were charged Rs55 for the journey, which invited scathing criticism from the passengers.

Planning Minister Asad Umar said, “Karachi Green Line commercial operation has been started on Quaid-i-Azam's birthday. The first bus departed from Abdullah Chowk station with passengers. “

Asad Umar said, “From today, the eleven stations will have a four-hour service from 8 to 12 0'clock in the morning. Insha’Allah, as announced earlier, from January 10, all the stations will start working from morning to evening.”

شہر قائد میں، قائد اعظم کی سالگرہ کے دن کراچی گرین لائن کمرشل آپریشن کا آغاز. پہلی بس مسافروں کے ساتھ عبداللہ چوک سٹیشن سے روانہ. آج سے گیارہ سٹیشن صبح 8 سے 12 بجے یعنی 4 گھنٹے کی سروس ہو گی. انشاءاللہ جیسے پہلے اعلان کیا گیا، 10 جنوری سے تمام سٹیشن صبح سے شام تک کام شروع کر دیں pic.twitter.com/HatHpMwKqq

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) December 25, 2021

However, passengers faced difficulties due to improper arrangements at the bus stops on the first day of the launch. 

Reporters Aadia Naz and Basim Iftikhar