Sharjeel meets ADB and AFD delegation

F.P. Report

Karachi: Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon held a meeting with Asian Development Bank and Agence Francaise De Development (AFD) delegation on Monday on Red Line BRT project and assured Sindh government full support and cooperation in completing the infrastructure in 24 months time .
The delegation included Asian Development Bank Senior Urban Development Specialist Lloyd Wright, CEUW-ADB in-charge Jia Heeyong, Senior Project Officer ADB Umar Ali Shah, and AFD Transport Task Team Lead David Margonsztern. Secretary Transport Abdul Haleem Sheikh, Managing Director Sindh Mass Transit Authority Altaf Sario, CEO Trans Karachi Wasif Ijlal were also present. The issues of BRT Red Line project and completion of the project within the stipulated time were discussed in detail in the meeting. On the suggestion of the Provincial Minister, meeting agreed to hold weekly zoom meeting on the BRT Red Line project to review the progress of development work. On behalf of the Sindh government, the Provincial Minister assured the delegation of all possible assistance in completing the project and said that there would be no delays from government of Sindh. ‘ My entire team and contractors will work on the project day and night. The Sindh Minister added that it was the mission of the Sindh government to resolve the public transport issues of city.
He told the ADB delegation that after assuming the portfolio of transport , he has given on month time to Sindh Mass Transit authority and executing authorities of Abdul Sattar Edhi (BRT orange line ) to complete the project by May 30.The Provincial Minister said that Red Line is a biogas project, we want it to be successful so that it can be replicated in Hyderabad and other major cities of the province.
He assured that The process of land transfer for BRT Red Line Depot will be expedited adding that he will personally look into the transfer of 32 acres of land for a biogas plant of the project . Sharjeel Memon said that the civil work / infrastructure of BRT Red Line would be completed within the stipulated period of 24 months. Simultaneously, he suggested that the process of procuring buses for the project should be expedited, so that buses are available as soon as the infrastructure of the project is completed.
Asian Development Bank Senior Urban Development Specialist Transport Lloyed Wright briefed the minister that the Red Line project is environment friendly, and totally different from other BRTs including green line, yellow line, orange line and others. Pointing out issues of the project, he said that there was issue of land for construction of two depots of the project and transfer of 32 acres of land for construction of biogas plant.