Automatic sliding door system used in Pakistan bus network

Australian automatic door company iDoor has successfully completed the first stage of the Karachi Bus Rapid transit system refurbishment, installing the iDoor A series automated platform screen software in bus terminals.

Funded by the World Bank, the iDoor system was chosen for its reliability to work under the most difficult conditions and because of its success in the King George Square underground bus terminal in Brisbane.

The automatic doors are part of crowd control screens fitted to a network of bus terminals, preventing people from entering the roadway and allowing buses to load and unload quickly. It is increasing efficiency and minimising accidents.

Travel times around the crowded Asian city have already been reduced and the project has helped improve the standard of living. Improving public transport in such crowded cities is a huge challenge, but the controlled platforms at bus terminals are a recent concept that has been used successfully elsewhere.

iDoor are proud that it was able to use the same technology developed in Australia to achieve great results in one of the world’s most crowded cities.

The buses are linked to an IT system and operate in a specified lane, with a speed limit between 15 to 30kmph.

Around 15,000 passengers travel on 200 buses within an hour. The 23 bus terminals in the system have 1100 automated doors synchronised to align with the bus’ on-board computer system, which operates the doors only when the bus is correctly aligned, ensuring minimum delay and maximum safety and efficiency.

Karachi Mass Transit Cell director general Rasheed Mughal says that 47% of Karachi people use motorcycles, 42% of people use cars and only 6% use public transport. He indicated that soon 250 CNG buses will be operated in Karachi under the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Bus Project.

This project is a must for Karachi as the city’s population is expected to increase to 30 million by 2030, which would create great problems for public transport. The control of a large number of people using the system is critical.