Electric Bus Service Suspended in Karachi After Power Disruption at Charging Depot
Electric bus operations in Karachi were temporarily suspended after a prolonged power disruption at a charging station left dozens of vehicles unable to recharge, affecting public transport services across multiple routes.
According to officials, the charging facilities at the Mehran Depot in Model Colony remained without electricity for several days, preventing more than 30 electric buses from operating. As a result, services on key routes, including EV-1, EV-3, and the women-only Pink Bus route R-1, were halted.
Transport authorities stated that repeated complaints were made regarding the power issue, but the situation could not be resolved in time, leading to the suspension of operations. The disruption reportedly affected thousands of daily commuters who rely on electric buses for affordable transportation.
Officials noted that the issue worsened over the weekend, ultimately forcing the suspension of services after operating conditions became unsustainable. A temporary restoration effort by the power utility later raised hopes that services could resume once electricity supply stabilizes.
The affected routes connect several major areas of the city, including residential and commercial zones, and are widely used for daily commuting.
Meanwhile, residents in areas near the depot also reported extended power outages, which caused difficulties in daily household activities during hot weather conditions.
A spokesperson for the power utility stated that electricity supply to the depot has now been restored. The utility further said that the disruption was caused by excessive load at the consumer end and not due to scheduled outages.
Officials added that system upgrades may be carried out once formal requests and necessary approvals for load expansion are completed by the relevant authorities.
Authorities are expected to review the situation to prevent similar disruptions in the future and ensure continuity of public transport services.
