KARACHI: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday formally inaugurated the much-awaited Green Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project during his one-day visit to Karachi.
The premier, who arrived in Karachi earlier in the day, was accompanied at the ceremony by senior officials, including Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar.
The inauguration was held at the main station of the Green Line project at Numaish Chowrangi. The premier also visited a bus station, where he inspected the infrastructure and also received a briefing on how the ticketing system works.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister pointed out that no modern city can function without a modern transportation system, citing the example of hugely populated Chinese cities with effective public transport facilities.
Terming Karachi “Pakistan’s engine of growth”, he said the metropolis’ prosperity had a positive effect on the entire country. “Making Karachi functional and successful means we are helping Pakistan,” he remarked, calling the Green Line transport system the first step towards building a modern city.
The prime minister lamented that several governments came and went, but “no one paid attention” to Karachi’s transportation system. “I have been seeing Karachi for 50 years. We have seen its transformation into a cave because we did not focus on its administration,” he added.
Quoting the example of the Iranian capital, he said even though the country was under US sanctions, Tehran had modern facilities because of its efficient management. “Tehran collects $500 million in revenue and spends it through planning. In comparison, Karachi doesn’t even collect $30m,” he noted.
While shedding light on environmental issues, he said due to the growing population, Karachi has become a very polluted city, therefore, measures must be taken to address the problem.
Karachi Transformation Plan
Talking about the Karachi Transformation Plan, the prime minister said he was “happy” to know the PTI government was living up to its development-related promises and work is underway.
“The cleaning of nullahs, the works on the freight corridor are underway, but I am particularly happy about one project — K-4 — in which I am personally involved,” he added.
PM Imran said during the next month, the groundbreaking ceremony of the K4 Project would be performed, and in the next 14-15 months, it will be completed. “In 2023, we will be able to provide water to Karachi from Kenjhar Lake in August or September,” the prime minister said.
Green Line Bus project
The bus service will comprise 80 hybrid buses that will play a route of 22 kilometres from Surjani to the Municipal Park near Jama Cloth market with, 23 stations located on each km.
Green Line BRT is a first mass transit in Karachi with daily ridership capacity of 135000 passengers. Eco-friendly 80 hybrid buses will help decongestion of jam packed roads.#GreenLineForKarachi pic.twitter.com/sKKl8s8xcE
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) December 10, 2021
Work on the Rs16.85 billion federal government-funded bus project had begun after then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated it in February 2016 by performing the groundbreaking.
Later, the project was extended by another 10 kilometres as initially sought by the Sindh government and the estimated cost crossed the figure of Rs24bn. The project was estimated to be completed by the end of 2017, but kept getting new deadlines.
In Green Line Bus Fleet there are 80 articulated hybrid buses, while the bus is equipped with a cell phone charging port facility & priority seats for elderly & differently-abled. #GreenLineForKarachi pic.twitter.com/rlnj1lVw0e
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) December 10, 2021
Since the launch of the scheme, the battered roads on either side of the route have turned into a great source of nuisance for commuters and for the shopkeepers doing their businesses.
The second and final consignment of 40 buses for the Green Line project arrived in the city on Oct 21, raising the number of buses to 80, rekindling citizens’ hope that Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in the metropolis was set to be launched.
The first batch of 40 buses had arrived in the city on Sept 19 which the planning minister had referred to as a “ray of hope” and “milestone”, calling it the beginning of modern public transport service for Karachiites after a long gap of 40 years.
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