Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif on Friday performed the ground-breaking Rs 16 billion Green Line Bus Rapid Transit System. The premier hoped the Green Line BRT System would start by 2017 to cater to some 300,000 commuters a day across the metropolis. The 'fully dedicated' transport system is estimated to cost Rs 16 billion.
"We will only talk about development schemes for Karachi in days to come," PM Sharif said at the launch ceremony of the Green Line BRT System held at Anu Bhai Park, Nazimabad saying that the continuing Rangers operation was yielding positive results towards a durable peace in Karachi.
He said Karachi has been subjected to the worst form of terrorism since some time and its effects Lauding Pangers and police, he also expressed his support to the PPP-led Sindh government for restoration of peace in Karachi. PM said unfortunately terrorism also raised its ugly head and disrupted life but Karachiites determinedly faced it and refused to budge against criminal elements. He said residents of Karachi not only rightfully required to be rid of the wave of criminality but they also deserved to be provided with modern facilities of urban life.
He said Green Line Bus Rapid Transport System is the practical manifestation of our resolve to equip the city with most modern mean of commutation. He said hectic punitive efforts with support of provincial government have yielded desired results and peace and amity have returned to Karachi. Green Line BRT System: It is the first BRT Line to start in Karachi to help facilitate some 20 million people of the city with a mass transit system funded by the federal government.
The prime minister had announced in July, 2014 to provide an infrastructure component to launch the BRT Green Line project on modern lines to help alleviate severe traffic congestion. The Green Line BRT route passes along one of the busiest travel corridors of the city having the highest commuter traffic demand. Total length of the route from KESC Power House - Surjani Town to Municipal Park - M.A. Jinnah Road is around 18.4 kilometers of which about 11.7 kilometers are elevated while the rest on a ground track.
It will have 22 stations with all necessary facilities including covered escalators, stairs, elevators, modern ticket counters, comfortable seats and other passenger amenities. The dedicated lanes for these modern buses will cover distance in a short span of time with great comfort to the commuters. About the project, PM Nawaz Sharif said that it would be far better as compared to the metro bus system in Lahore. He added that the route of bus project would be extended to Merewether Tower since the Blue Line project had been delayed.
The Premier said adequate care has been taken to design its stations beautifully facilitating common commuters particularly the elderly and the disabled. He said that all technical, architectural and aesthetic aspects of the project are duly taken care of and hoped that the Sindh government would ensure its proper upkeep.
Along with government functionaries, he said government has appointed important technical experts and members of the academia on the board of KIDCL so that it is provided with a well rounded opinion and advice He said Karachi Infrastructure Development Company that has been exclusively formed to expedite Green Line Project will ensure that it is completed in the stipulated period.
Thar Coal project: Coal-fired power project that are under way in Thar will soon begin to produce 13 mega watts of electricity initially, he said. "Economic revival of Pakistan has started," he said. Other projects in Karachi: The Prime Minister said many more development projects have also been planned for Karachi including Greater Karachi Water Projects and Greater Karachi Sewerage Project.
"Water project K-IV will be launched on 23rd of next month. The project will produce 260 mgd," he added. He said mega projects such as Lyari Expressway and Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway and Karachi-Lahore Motorway would also facilitate Karachiites. He said work on Blue, Red and Yellow Lines, M9, Malir Expressway would begin soon besides the remaining construction work in Lyari Expressway would be started in March this year. "Sukkur-Multan motorway and Lahore-Multan motorway are also the pipeline projects for economic development of the country," he said.
On the pointation of Governor Sindh, the premier said Karachi Circular Railway would be made operational with due help of the federal government. "The network of transportation and communication system would strengthen social bonding in the country," he said. He said motorways and Metro Systems ensure widespread connectivity that is considered vital for development.
He said federal government is endeavouring to build Karachi to Peshawar Motorway under the wider plan of infrastructure development under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). "One aspect of the infrastructure development is providing the cities with modern facilities and, after building Metro systems in Lahore and Rawalpindi we have now embarked upon constructing similar systems in Multan," he added. On terrorism: In the past, the prime minister said Pakistan suffered from twin problems of dictatorships and terrorism that retarded the growth of the country considerably.
But now Pakistan has been freed of the evil effects of the past practices and with the gradual strengthening of democracy we have embarked upon the road to prosperity. "My vision is that infrastructure development underscores all requirements of economic recovery," he said. Governor Sindh: In his address, Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan said that prime minister has broken the myth of being more attentive toward Punjab regarding development initiatives.
"You (prime minister) have broken the myth that PML-N government is considering and establishing development projects only in Punjab," he said. He said that Karachi Circular Railway could be restored with the support of federal government. CM thanked prime minister: Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah thanked the prime minister for providing financial assistance in the Green Line project. "I appreciate the efforts being done by the prime minister. The mass transit project was an earnest need of the people of this mega city," he said. Shah said the federal government has provided 50% funds for the K-4 water project in Karachi which will eliminate the water woes of metropolis.