Green Line BRT starts this month

CM tells solid waste management authorities to step up front end efforts

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, presiding over a meeting of the Provincial Coordination and Implementation Committee, decided to launch the Green Line Bus Rapid Transit System during the current month and BRT Yellow Line from March 2022.

He also ordered solid waste management authorities to strengthen front line garbage collection.

The meeting was attended by Karachi Corps Commander Lt Gen Mohammad Saeed, Sindh Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shaha, Law Advisor Murtaza Wahab, Planning and Development Chairman Hassan Nqavi, Karachi Commissioner Iqbal Memon, Water Board MD Asadullah Khan and other senior officials.

The meeting was told that the Green Line BRT corridor had been completed up to Numaish and Turnstile live had also been tested. Phased commercial operation will commence in late December which would be subsequently fully operated by January 2022.

Transfer of funds from government of Sindh, especially for buses, ITS and integration of the Orange Line with Green Line has been requested. SIDCL has requested the Sindh government to approve fare on the basis of input costs'.

The chief minister directed the SIDCL to send the summary for the cabinet. "The cabinet is the competent authority to approve the fare," he said. The BRT Corridor (3.88 km) and all its bus depot structures have been completed, while electrical/mechanical and finishing works are in progress. They are expected to be completed in the current month, the meeting was told.

Solid Waste Management

Read More: Green Line BRT far from completion

Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) MD Zubair Channa, briefing the meeting said, that the board was performing front-end collection services in districts East, South and Malir. The front-end operations of District West, which were suspended in 2018, have been resumed in October, 2020.

"The SSWMB is performing front-end services in five out of seven districts of Karachi and also middle end operations in district central and Korangi as well as Hyderabad, Qasimabad and Kori Municipal jurisdictions."

Revenue Generation

The meeting was told that municipal solid waste has huge revenue potential in terms of household service. Not only residential areas, but all commercial areas and restaurants and industrial units, as per law, are mandated to pay municipal cess/fee for the service which is being provided to them. It was stated that the Informal sector and unauthorised persons, under the patronage of MCs, are collecting household fees even in the areas where SSWMB is providing services. As an estimate there, is potential of more than Rs.3.5 billion per annum which can be generated from residential areas of Karachi alone.

The board of SSWMB has decided to collect municipal fees from the residential and commercial areas of Karachi and have mandated the management to explore operations for collection of fees.

Stormwater drains

KMC Municipal Commissioner presenting progress report regarding Mahmoodabad Nullah said said that all the 238 intercepting units have been demolished whereas an amount of Rs10,440,000- has so far been distributed as compensation amongst the eligible locally displaced people LDPs.

Guijar Nullah: All the 4058 intercepting Units have been demolished whereas an Rs.260,730,000/- has so far been distributed as compensation amongst the eligible LDPs. Orangi Nullah: 1696 intercepting Units out of 1703 have been demolished whereas an Rs.145,080,000/- has so far been distributed as compensation amongst the eligible LPs.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2021.