Incomplete work mars Green Line project

Elevators yet to get functional as Centre gives new launching date

KARACHI:

According to Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, the project will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan on December 10, but the track of the modern transport project Green Line Rapid Transport System in Karachi is refuting the claims of the federal government.

The stairs to the track are still nonfunctional, it was observed during a survey of various stretches of the project by the Express team.

Piles of garbage around the stairs are obstructing the movement of the pedestrians. The elevators and automated ticketing system could not be installed at many stations.

In order to complete the project in a hurry, incomplete works are being completed on an emergency basis due to which there is severe difficulty in the movement of citizens through the upper passages.

After repeated deadlines, Federal Minister Asad Umar has now announced the inauguration of the project on December 10. However, work on the stations and overpasses on the Green Line track is still incomplete. The escalators along the upper corridors from Nagan Chowrangi to Surjani offer a view of a scrap yard.

Special chambers for elevators are empty. However, at some stations where elevators are installed, the wiring work is incomplete. Scanning tickets at most stations and installing automatic walk-throughs on bus routes could not be completed. There is a lot of encroachment around most of the stations.

Garbage piles have formed under the upper passages. Efforts are being made to complete the unfinished work in a hurry without any precautionary measures which endanger the lives of the citizens. Media access has been banned to cover up the shortcomings of the Green Line bus project.

While trying to show the plight of the station and the upper passage at Nagan Chowrangi and the distress and anxiety of the citizens, the private security guards attacked the team of The Express Tribune.

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On this occasion, the citizens also complained about the behavior of the guards and said that due to the track of the green line, it is impossible to cross the road without using the overhead passage. Incomplete work is being done during busy hours of the day. Iron pipes and other barriers have been erected on the stairs and senior citizens, including women, have to wade through these iron pipes, welding machines and wires.

The condition of the roads and stairs leading from Nagan Chowrangi to UP turn is also bad. Encroachments make it difficult to get to the track and there are piles of rubbish.