Bus Rapid Transit System planned for Karachi

KARACHI: Sindh government has planned to introduce Bus Rapid Transit System in the province initially in Karachi in the first phase costing Rs 450 million.

This system successfully functions in 28 countries of world including Iran, Japan, Turkey, China, Malaysia and India.

After the success of Bus Rapid Transit System in Karachi, it would be extended to Hyderabad, Sukkur and other cities of province, minister for transport Akhtar Jadoon said according to an official handout on Sunday.

The minister had discussed the project with Karachi Mast Transit Cell’s Director General Rasheed Mughal at a meeting held on Thursday last.

The minister received briefing on the project from DG, KMTC, who told that there would be three corridors under the proposed system – one corridor would be from Safoora Chowk to Regal, another from Surjani Town to Radio Pakistan and third one from Korangi.

According to a KMTC official, the buses operating under the proposed system would have capacity of 80 passengers. The buses, linked to IT system, would operate in their specified lane with speed limit of 15 to 30 km per hour and there would be no chance of traffic jam in their way. Around 15,000 passengers could travel in 200 buses in an hour.

The DG, KMTC told that project was must for Karachi as the city population would increase to 30 million by 2030 and there would be great problems of public transport.

According to the official, 47 percent of Karachi people use motorcycles and 42 percent people have only 6 percent public transport. The minister on this occasion said that 250 CNG buses would be operated soon in Karachi under Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Bus Project. ppi

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