Karachi to get dedicated heavy transport terminal at Northern Bypass

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

According to a press release, officials also approved the construction of a dedicated heavy vehicle track linking Karachi Port to the proposed terminal at the Northern Bypass. The terminal will be built along the bypass route. Memon said the project is expected to ease pressure from heavy traffic within the city and improve the overall transport system.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the Sindh Mass Transit Authority board, chaired by Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon. The meeting reviewed a range of urban transport and infrastructure projects for Karachi, Hyderabad, and Sukkur, with discussions focused on reducing congestion and promoting environmentally friendly transport.

Senior 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 range of urban transport and infrastructure projects for Karachi, Hyderabad, and Sukkur, with discussions focused on reducing congestion and promoting environmentally friendly transport. Senior 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 an electric vehicle taxi service in Karachi and decided to accelerate the project’s financial evaluation process this month.

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In another move, the authority approved the purchase of 50 new double-decker buses for Karachi. Sharjeel Memon said each bus would have the capacity for 126 passengers and would help improve passenger flow and reduce pressure on public transport.

The board further approved the procurement of 500 additional pink electric scooters for women. Distribution of the scooters is scheduled to begin in Hyderabad on May 22. Memon described the pink scooter initiative as a “revolutionary project” that had played a significant role in women’s empowerment. He said that within a year, the introduction of 1,000 scooters had changed public attitudes across 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 run on five routes in Hyderabad.

Officials said five modern depots for electric vehicles 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 environmentally friendly transport facilities to other districts of the province.

The board additionally approved the construction of a single-storey parking plaza near the Maula Ali Qadamgah site in Hyderabad. The facility, spread over one acre, is intended to improve parking arrangements for visitors and residents.

The meeting also decided that all future traffic signals in the province would operate on solar power systems.