The Karachi Electric Bus Service, launched a year ago by the Sindh government, is facing the imminent threat of a complete shutdown due to the sudden suspension of services on two out of its three routes, leaving countless passengers stranded.
As of June 2023, these electric buses were introduced as part of the People Bus Services project initiated by the Sindh government. Unfortunately, the situation on the ground has taken a turn for the worse.
One of the affected routes commences from Tank Chowk near Jinnah Avenue, running through Clock Tower and traversing key locations like the Airport, Sharae Faisal, FTC, Korangi, and Khayaban-e-Ittahad.
The second route, starting from Malir Cantt checkpost and ending at M.A. Jinnah Road, serves areas such as Safoora Chowk, Moosamyaat, Kamran Chowrangi, Perfume Chowk, Millennium, Dalmia, and Agha Khan Hospital.
These electric buses depend on charging docks for their power supply, with two power stations established in Bahria Town and Malir Cantt to cater to a fleet of 40 buses. Regrettably, reports suggest that the charging stations are presently unable to provide the required charge, leading to the suspension of services on two of the routes.
This unexpected disruption has left thousands of daily commuters who rely on these electric buses in a state of dismay. For them, the beginning of the week now comes with the harsh realization that the buses they depend on are no longer available.
Thousands of passengers who have come to depend on these electric buses were greeted with the shocking news that the services they were waiting for are no longer in operation.
