New CNG buses disappear

LAHORE: Only a very short number of new CNG air-conditioned buses, recently launched by Lahore Transport Company (LTC) was seen on Thursday on the city roads just after six months of its inauguration.

Punjab government in November 2012 launched 56 new buses which were inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif but due CNG supply problems, the full number of these new air-conditioned buses could not start its operation in provincial capital.

Only 5 to 10 percent vehicles are providing transport facilities to the people of the city due to which people had to face immense problems to reach their destinations in this hot season.

Talking to APP, passengers of route B-9, B-33 and B-6 claimed that there were no bus standing on the bus stands and they had to face hours long wait and ultimately they had to higher expensive rickshaws to find their ways.

Usman, Tariq, Jaffar and other citizen said that there were no proper arrangements on bus stops and timings were also not suitable as every bus departed after 15 to 30 minutes from the bus stop.

Some passengers standing at Shadman Chowk said that operation at route 33 has completely stopped due to which they have to face immense problems to reach their destination as no other public transport provides facility to the people.

They have appealed to the Punjab Chief Minister to take strict action against all the responsible relevant staff and immediate steps should be taken to facilitate the public of provincial capital.

On the other hand, an official of LTC Amjad told APP that most of the new buses were still off road due to CNG problems and all the new buses would start its full operation in the city route within some days.