KARACHI: With soaring petroleum prices and burgeoning inflation taking on the nerves of citizens - a decision for weekly 2-day closure of CNG stations, has badly hampered the public transport service, affecting the commuters in particular who face immense hardships due to thin public transport at roads.
Millions of vehicles in the city have converted to gas following the skyrocketing prices of petrol and diesel. Citizens, standing in a queue of hundreds passengers at various bus stands in the city waiting for their respective bus to reach their destination were the ultimate sufferer of the decision of CNG- closure.
More than 15000 public transport vehicles including CNG buses, mini-buses and rickshaws were using CNG. Apart from public transport, around one million private vehicles were running on CNG in the city.
A notification issued by Sui Southern Gas Company Limited on Tuesday night said that all the CNG stations in Sindh and Balochistan will remain closed for 24 hours from 9am, December 28, Wednesday till 9am, December 29, Thursday, 2011.
It added that another closure will also be observed from 9am, December 30, Friday up to 9am December 31 2011, Saturday. According to SSGC, the move was aimed at improving the line pack position all over its franchise area of Sindh and Balochistan provinces, which has been badly disturbed due to increased domestic gas load during the current winter season.
Incensed commuters are often witnessed bickering with bus conductors who accommodate passengers more than a capacity and such an overloading poses serious threat to the lives of commuters.
President All Karachi Transport Ittehad Irshad Bukhari, when contacted, said 50 to 60 percent minibuses were converted on CNG.
He said the case of buses was different as it can't be run on diesel, CNG and petrol as did the other private vehicles. He said it was obvious that all CNG-run buses could not ply on roads during the closure period of gas.
We are holding discussions with CNG Dealers Association and trying to hammer out a solution so as to end problems facing transporters and citizens, in particular.
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