BRT projects to be completed on war footing: Memon

Says PPP government gives top priority to city’s transport issues

KARACHI:

Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that all BRT projects of Karachi would be completed on war footing to resolve the long standing public transport issue of the cosmopolitan city.

He added that Sindh Mass Transit Authority has been directed to setup camp office at the depot of Abdul Sattar Edhi (orange line) and work 24/7 to complete it's remaining work by May 30 positively.

Talking to media during his visit to BRT Orange Line on Saturday, he said that officers of Sindh Mass Transit Authority have been directed to work round-the-clock and monitor the pace of work.

He said he would also visit the project three times a week to inspect the progress. He said that PPP Chairman Bilwal Bhutto Zardari, President Asif Ali Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah have given special instructions to resolve the long standing issue of Karachi's transport.

Former provincial ministers of transport, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and Syed Owais Shah made commendable efforts in this regard, Memon said adding that the PPP leadership has directed to complete the work of years in months and those of months in days.

He said that Sindh government will provide all possible assistance and full security to the BRT orange line contractors.

He said that completion of all BRT projects of Karachi is top mission of PPP's Sindh government adding that he has held long meeting on BRT projects with Sindh Mass Transit Authority officials.

Next meeting on BRT Red line is scheduled for Wednesday, he said. He said that BRT orange line has been named after Abdul Sattar Edhi.

It is about four kilometers long route from Orangi Town to Nazimabad Board Office where it will connect to the Green Line. It's 98 per cent work has been completed and the project if fully funded by Sindh government involving a cost of Rs4.29 billion.

The project is being implemented by Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Limited, a federal government owned company, while Nespak is serving as a consultant in the project.

He added that 20 buses of Orange Line project will arrive at Karachi port on May 11. After the necessary procedures at the port the buses will reach BRT depot.

He said that one week time period has been fixed for test trials of buses on BRT route.

In response to a question, he said that arrogance of Imran Khan has caused irreparable damage to country.

He said that present coalition government is trying hard to overcome the situation and steer the country out of economic crisis and challenges.

The minister claimed that Imran Khan called PML-N members at Bani Gala to hold a meeting.