Karachi’s Regional Transport Authority has approved the installation of digital fare meters in rickshaws to address persistent complaints of overcharging across the city. The decision was made during a Regional Transport Authority board meeting chaired by Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi.
Under the proposed system, rickshaw fares will be calculated automatically based on the distance traveled, with passengers able to see the exact fare displayed during their ride. Officials said the change is intended to make fare collection more transparent and accountable, addressing a long standing source of friction between rickshaw drivers and passengers across the city.
Alongside approving the digital meters, the board also reviewed the Sindh government’s proposed Karachi Mobility Project and agreed to restructure the city’s bus route policy based on passenger demand and transport needs. Commissioner Naqvi directed the Regional Transport Authority Secretariat to prioritize route permits for underserved and suburban areas where residents continue to face limited public transport options, while the board also agreed to discourage unnecessarily long intra city bus routes in favor of a more efficient route network.
The meeting also reviewed ongoing efforts to computerize traffic signals at five major intersections across the city, with work already underway at PIDC, Sindh Club near Metropole Hotel, and Avari Towers, while upgrades at Teen Talwar and Boat Basin are expected to begin soon. Officials informed the commissioner that 12 of Karachi’s 16 previously non functional traffic signals had already been restored, with work on the remaining four still in progress. The reforms form part of broader efforts to modernize Karachi’s transport infrastructure, improve traffic flow, and provide safer and more efficient services to commuters across the city.
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