Sharjeel Memon for starting work on BRT Yellow Line at earliest

F.P. Report

Karachi: Sindh Transport Department has decided to launch operations of People’s Electric Bus Service on more new routes in Karachi in the month of Ramadan.

The decision was taken in an important meeting chaired by Sindh Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon held to review public transport projects at his office on Friday.

The Minister directed MD Sindh Mass Transit Authority and project director NRTC to finalize the arrangements of EV buses on new routes in the metropolis. Mr. Memon said that new fleet of environment friendly European standard EV buses are being imported .

The meeting also reviewed the People’s Bus Service, BRT Red Line, Orange Line and Yellow Line projects reviewed in detail .The minister said that Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has given strict instructions to complete the development projects of Karachi as soon as possible.

The Chairman himself is taking keen interest in the development projects of Karachi and has launched two important projects in the city in a week including foundation stone of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and opening of Johar Chowrangi flyover .

He said that the people of Karachi have given a huge mandate to the Pakistan People’s Party in the local bodies elections, it is our priority to fulfill their expectations. The minister said work on the World Bank funded BRT Yellow Line will also be launched soon .

He directed the transport department to award the tender for the new Jam Sadiq bridge under the BRT Yellow Line project by May 2. No Delay in this will be tolerated in any case.The minister added that the hurdles in the construction of the bus depot for the BRT Yellow Line project should also be removed so that their construction can be start well in time.

The minister also sought weekly report on the speed of work on Asian Development Bank funded BRT Redline project. He said that the citizens are facing severe difficulties, the Sindh government wants to complete the BRT Redline project as soon as possible.’

This project is the most important project to improve the public transport infrastructure of Karachi, ‘ the minister remarked. He said that the BRT Red Line project contractors have been disbursed Rs 400 million this week. Round the clock construction of corridor should be ensured in lot one and lot two of the project in day and night shifts. Secretary Transport Abdul Haleem Shaikh, MD Sindh Mass Transit Authority Kamal Hakeem and NRTC Project Director Sohaib Shafiq attended the meeting.